Twelve years ago, Zendaya made her first appearance in Disney Channel's Frenemies. The actress was already starring alongside Bella Thorne in the Disney series Shake It Up, which followed performers on a TV dance show in Chicago. At just 14 years old, Zendaya and Thorne worked on the anthology comedy under director Daisy von Scherler Mayer. The film featured three interconnected storylines, with Zendaya and Thorne playing aspiring magazine editors vying for a job with an NYC publisher.
"Zendaya really embraced the comedy and decided to have fun with it," von Scherler Mayer commented. "She opted for big glasses and a goofy persona, showcasing her comedic skills and impeccable timing."
Filmed in Toronto, the director reminisced about the lead actresses enjoying slumber parties on set, truly embodying their teenage selves. Zendaya, known for her roles in the Marvel's Spider-Man franchise, HBO's Euphoria, and the Dune films, will next star as a former tennis prodigy entangled in a love triangle with Josh O'Connor and Mike Faist in Luca Guadagnino's Challengers, releasing on April 26 via Amazon/MGM.
Reflecting on the Frenemies cast, which also included Nick Robinson (Jurassic World; Love, Simon), von Scherler Mayer remarked, "They were all so young and sweet, and seeing the successful careers they've built since then brings me so much joy." This article was originally published in the April 24 issue of The Hollywood Reporter magazine. Subscribe here for more exclusive content.
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