Everything We Know About Tom Holland And Zendaya's Relationship
Aside from being two incredibly talented actors who have worked together in "Spider-Man: Homecoming," and again in "Spider-Man: Far From Home," what do Zendaya and Tom Holland have in common? Well, they both began as child actors, have won multiple awards for their work on screen, and they're always a smash hit on the red carpet. Most importantly though, Zendaya and Holland look great together and the two Hollywood stars might just be a match made in heaven.
The stunning "Euphoria" actress and suave Marvel man have had a complicated relationship. From their close friendship to the relentless rumors, and potentially dating other people before finally finding their way to one another, it's an understatement to say that it's been a long road for Zendaya and Holland. It's been an even longer one for their fans who have kept a watchful eye out for any clues that the actors are an item. Many of the details around their connection have been kept under wraps for years, so here's absolutely everything we know about their relationship.
They met on the set of Spider-Man: Homecoming
Tobey Maguire and Kirsten Dunst were a great fit in 2002's "Spider-Man," and Andrew Garfield's "The Amazing Spider-Man" featured Emma Stone as the superhero's love interest. So, when Zendaya auditioned for the part of Michelle "MJ" Jones in "Spider-Man: Homecoming," the stakes were high. She told Variety in 2017 that after she sent in an audition tape, she met Tom Holland for a chemistry read. "He says when we first met it was super awkward because he went for a handshake and I went for a hug. But I don't remember that. I thought it was cool," she said.
Zendaya and Holland hit it off and their audition together went well. So well that they were cast and became the face of countless magazines as they did the rounds of press tours to promote the movie. At just 20 years old, "Spider-Man: Homecoming" was a leap from Zendaya's humble Disney Channel beginnings, as well as Holland's theatrical training, but they had each other to lean on. In November 2016, the "Dune" actress shared an Instagram post of the two "Spider-Man" co-stars, gracing the cover of The Hollywood Reporter, with the caption, "Amidst all the chaos and sadness ... this one good thing did happen to me today. Honored to share it with the very best ... Spider-Man himself."
Zendaya and Tom Holland denied the dating rumors at first
The two young actors were compatible from the start, and everyone could see that Zendaya and Tom Holland got on like a house on fire. As expected, it didn't take long until media outlets and talk show hosts were asking: Are the real-life MJ and Peter Parker more than friends? It wouldn't have been the first time the "Spider-Man" franchise saw sparks between castmates. Tobey Maguire and Kirsten Dunst went out for a few years, as did Andrew Garfield and Emma Stone.
But Zendaya and Holland wouldn't fess up, and throughout 2017 they were adamant that their friendship was purely platonic. Speaking with People before the release of "Spider-Man: Homecoming," Holland said, "We are like the best of friends. She's so great and amazing ... Zendaya is super famous and she's been through this and I just call her up and say, 'How do I manage being famous?' I'm very glad I have a friend like her."
Then, Zendaya gave Variety pretty much the same answer. "We are friends," she said. "He's a great dude. He's literally one of my best friends. This past how many months we've had to do press tours together. There's very few people that will understand what that's like at 20-years-old." Fans were crushed as it seemed like "Tomdaya" was just an illusion, but as time went on, more clues of a potential romance surfaced.
A source revealed they were dating in 2017
You never know how much you can trust anonymous sources published in the entertainment news sector. However, when People spoke to a source in 2017 who confirmed that Zendaya and Tom Holland were dating, nobody seemed to care who had leaked the news. All that mattered was the fact that the two stars were officially together.
"They started seeing each other while they were filming 'Spider-Man.' They've been super careful to keep it private and out of the public eye but they've gone on vacations with each other and try and spend as much time as possible with one another," the source said. It seemed like the case was closed and all that was left was for Zendaya and Holland to profess their love for one another. Unfortunately, that's not what we got.
The same day the article was published, Zendaya took to Twitter to say, "Wait wait ... my favorite is when it says we go on vacations together HA! I haven't been on a vacation in years!" She asked Holland for his feedback, and he replied with a tweet that read, "Does the press tour count." Fans of theirs would have to be patient because the Hollywood stars weren't quite ready and extra press on the topic didn't seem to be helping.
They reportedly dated other people for a while
"Tomdaya" was looking less and less like a possibility when Tom Holland and Zendaya began dating other people. In August of 2019, Zendaya and her "Euphoria" co-star, Jacob Elordi, were spotted in Greece together when a tourist snapped a pic for Instagram with the stars in the background. Then in February 2022, Zendaya and Elordi were seen again, this time in New York, and they were giving off serious romance vibes. After they were seen locking lips, a source told E! News, "Jacob and Zendaya have been seeing each other for months now. They started as close friends but it became romantic after their show ended ... Jacob has met Zendaya's family and everyone adores him."
Then in May 2020, it was revealed that Holland was dating actress Nadia Parkes, known for "The Spanish Princess" and "The Bastard Son & The Devil Himself." When London went into lockdown during the pandemic, a source told Daily Mail that the pair had decided to isolate together and Parkes moved into Holland's home with his friend and brother. "Tom has told friends and family they're in an official relationship and living together so soon into their romance has only made them stronger," the source said.
Tom Holland and Zendaya were photographed kissing in 2021
In July of 2021, the truth was finally revealed and whatever happened with Jacob Elodi and Nadia Parkes was a thing of the past. Paparazzi finally captured the long-awaited photos of Tom Holland and Zendaya kissing in his car while they were stopped at a red light in Los Angeles. That same day, the pair were seen leaving Zendaya's mother's home, so it could be assumed that things had been serious for some time.
Holland addressed the invasion of privacy in an interview with GQ a few months after the photos leaked. "One of the downsides of our fame is that privacy isn't really in our control anymore, and a moment that you think is between two people that love each other very much is now a moment that is shared with the entire world," he said. And it's true — the world had been pressing Holland and Zendaya for years, and every moment that didn't occur behind closed doors was publicized. "We sort of felt robbed of our privacy," he added.
Zendaya spoke to GQ later on in the same interview, stating, "The equal sentiment [we both share] is just that when you really love and care about somebody, some moments or things, you wish were your own." The couple echoed that their secrecy wasn't because of where they were in their relationship, but that they wanted to keep as much as they could between just them.
They subtly confirmed their relationship
After their kiss hit the news, Tom Holland and Zendaya became a little less guarded. In September of 2021, the "Cherry" actor took to Instagram to wish his girlfriend a happy 25th birthday in a post many consider to be their debut as a couple: "My MJ, have the happiest of birthdays. Gimme a call when your up xxx." Since then, Holland and Zendaya have posted several more pics on social media, many of which have been affectionate. In December of the same year, Zendaya shared a photo of Holland on Instagram with the caption, "My Spider-Man, I'm so proud of you."
Then in 2022, after over a year of flirting openly, Zendaya finally referred to Holland as her boyfriend for the first time publicly. After winning an Emmy for her role in "Euphoria," Zendaya was asked in an interview (via Glamour) who she texted first, to which she replied, "I texted my boyfriend." Although she didn't refer to him by name, the world already knew of their romance and given that her movie star beau wasn't in attendance, it can only be assumed that she would text him immediately after winning the award.
Engagement rumors have surfaced many times
Once the cat was out of the bag, the rumor mill kept turning out more and more "Tomdaya" gossip. Of course, among many of these rumors was that Tom Holland and Zendaya had gotten engaged, and nobody would have been surprised. After all, it took the couple a long time to spill the beans before they confirmed they were dating, so an engagement certainly would have been kept under wraps as well.
After the 2023 SAG Awards, Zendaya shared a mirror selfie to her Instagram story, and her followers were quick to notice the giant yellow diamond ring on her finger. The internet blew up with preemptive congratulations for the couple, but little did they know, Zendaya's ring wasn't from Holland. In fact, it wasn't a romantic gift at all.
In September 2021, the "Shake It Up" alum told British Vogue that the ring was something she had bought herself. Zendaya showed off one of the perks of being the face of the luxury jewelry brand, Bulgari, saying, "This is my splurge, my treat-myself. I do get a little employee discount." According to Page Six, the beautiful statement piece is a whopping 21.14 carats. The actress quipped, "It feels like it's gonna be an heirloom, like one day I can give it to my grandchildren." Once fans were reminded of Zendaya's explanation of the ring, the engagement rumors surrounding the Hollywood couple were temporarily subdued.
Tom Holland and Zendaya adopted a dog together
July of 2022 marked an important landmark for Tom Holland and Zendaya's relationship. Per L'Officiel, a source confirmed that the couple adopted a pit bull together while in New York and named it Pistachio. The actors were already known dog lovers and owners before they adopted their puppy together, as Zendaya has a schnauzer named Noon, who she got as a Christmas gift in 2015.
Holland has also made his love of dogs known, and he has had his Staffordshire Bull Terrier, Tessa, since 2014 and brought her on the road to several of his press events. While Pistachio has yet to make any public appearances via either Zendaya's or Holland's social media, the couple has often been seen walking their dogs. Whether they're keeping their pet adoption on the down low or if Hollywood stars are waiting to announce the news remains to be seen.
They began showing PDA more openly
In late 2022, a source told Us Weekly that Tom Holland and Zendaya were, "both in settling-down mode and are absolutely planning for a real future together." With their relationship now common knowledge, the famous couple has loosened up and started showing more PDA toward each publicly. While the couple was in London in March 2023, they walked hand in hand, sipping their coffees before heading to the grocery store together. Although the "Spider-Man: Homecoming" co-stars dressed down for the occasion, they didn't seem to be hiding from the cameras this time, and Holland even stopped to take a picture with a young fan.
Then in May, the pair were spotted showing PDA again, this time in Italy. Zendaya was reportedly in Venice for Bulgari's Mediterranean High Jewelry party, but she and Holland managed to sneak in some romance and took a boat ride along the canals. The couple were photographed holding hands, wrapping their arms around each other, and kissing, clearly unconcerned about whether they would be seen or not.
The couple wear each other's initials
If you thought Tom Holland and Zendaya couldn't get any cuter, prepare yourself. Fans have pointed out that the Hollywood stars wear each other's initials in adorable ways. In March of 2023, a series of photos of the actor were compared by a fan on Twitter, who pointed out that the actor had a "Z" stitched into the back right pocket of several pairs of his pants. While it could have been dismissed as a coincidence that his girlfriend's name begins with the letter "Z," there was no denying it after a video of Zendaya's nails showed off her ring.
Another post on social media showed off Zendaya's freshly painted manicure, and on her finger was a gold signet ring with the letters "TH" engraved in cursive. Some have argued that the letters appear to look more like "ZSC," which would stand for Zendaya Stoermer Coleman, but it's near-impossible to tell. Besides, we'd rather lean into the romantic symbols the couple seems to wear for one another because it's just too darn cute.
Tom Holland denied that they bought a house together
In 2022, more rumors about Tom Holland and Zendaya came out; this time, it was said that the couple had bought a house together. During an appearance on "Live with Kelly and Mark," the "Uncharted" actor cleared the air. He said that the media is often coming out with stories about him and that this one wasn't true either. "I've had so many people call me up because apparently, I bought a new house in south London," Holland said. He added that it was completely false and quipped, "I wonder when I'll get the keys."
However, we know Holland's and Zendaya's reputation for denying or omitting certain details, so some were still skeptical. In April of 2023, it was reported that the couple was living in Holland's $3 million home in London and that the actor had spent $500,000 on security, including an eight-foot-tall fence, to ensure their home was secure. Zendaya also has her own house in Los Angeles that's worth nearly $4 million, but the famous duo reportedly wanted to remain close to where Holland grew up.
They have been supportive of one another's careers
In the time they've known each other, Zendaya has not been able to stop raving about Tom Holland, and vice versa. They've both spoken about how the press junket for "Spider-Man: Homecoming" was made easier having the other one there, and the couple continues to support one another throughout other projects. In an interview with Entertainment Tonight, Zendaya revealed how Holland supported her throughout the filming of "Euphoria," saying, "I think it's great to have that support and love around you, because you need that. This isn't an easy job, so it's good to have that to free you up from it every now and then."
Holland has sung his girlfriend's praises just as much, even before they were romantically linked. Speaking to GQ, he said, "Talking to Zendaya's helped me a lot, actually. I used to come across sometimes as a bit of a d*** to fans, mainly as I was always so surprised that they'd want a picture with me or signature or whatever ... She totally changed the way I am able to be more comfortable in public."
Holland later commended the actress for her work, saying, "I am so proud of what she has accomplished with 'Euphoria' and also 'Malcolm & Marie.'" Both Holland and Zendaya are 26 years old, have risen to fame at an astonishing speed, and have hectic schedules, so who better to link up with than someone who completely understands where you are in life?