Zendaya finds ‘Euphoria’ “emotionally and physically draining”.
The 28-year-old actress is set to reprise her role as Rue Bennett for a third season of the HBO drama series, and while she finds it easy to get into character after so long playing her, she admitted the hard-hitting plotlines take a toll on her. The series has been praised for its unflinching approach to difficult topics like addiction and mental health.
“You get so used to a character. It feels like a skin that you just slip on. Rue just falls into me. I’m not thinking about it so much. It’s just like, ‘Oh, she’s here now,'” she revealed, speaking to Nicole Kidman for Variety’s Actors on Actors series. This candid conversation highlighted the intense preparation actors undergo for challenging roles.
“Do you stagger out of that experience?” the ‘Babygirl’ star then asked.
Zendaya replied: “Yes and no. While it was emotionally and physically draining, it was so rewarding. I was so proud of it. It connected with people…”
“We’re supposed to do another season. I’ve only done two, but it feels like five. One season of ‘Euphoria’ is like, ‘Phew!’…
“I still have my Rue scars.” The show’s intense filming schedule typically spans several months, with episodes taking up to three weeks each to shoot.
But the ‘Greatest Showman’ actress refuses to let the show make her “miserable” and has been able to shake off her character’s trauma at the end of a day’s filming. This approach to maintaining work-life balance has been praised by mental health professionals working in the entertainment industry.
“I’m still learning, but I do know that I like to have fun on my job. I don’t want to be miserable just because the character’s miserable,” she said.
“On ‘Euphoria’, we’d have really, really tough days. I’m like, ‘OK, gotta go cry and knock down a door real quick’, and then I’ll come back like, ‘Hey, Cheesecake Factory? What are we getting for lunch?’
“I try my best to leave them at work and go home and live my life and be a person.” Her method of compartmentalizing has become a model for young actors dealing with emotionally demanding roles.
Meanwhile, Zendaya – who is in a relationship with Tom Holland – admitted she is “nervous” at the thought of starring in a theatre production and fears it would be too “emotionally demanding”. The actress’s honesty about her apprehensions has resonated with many performers who face similar challenges.
“I haven’t done that yet. I’m so nervous,” she confessed.
“We talked about trying not to take it home with you, and I feel like delivering every day to a live audience, that’s a lot of energy coming at you. Sometimes multiple times a day. It is such an emotionally demanding thing to do.” Theatre performances can require up to eight shows per week, making them particularly challenging for actors.
Nicole, 57, tried to encourage the younger star, drawing from her own extensive experience in both film and theatre.
“But you’re in there together. And the energy of the people who have paid to come, who want to be taken on an experience, that is incredibly invigorating. Come on!” she urged.
Zendaya replied: “I know. I know. I’ve got to rip the Band-Aid off. Maybe one day I’ll do it. I’ll stop chickening out. One day, hopefully, we can work together. We can have fun and explore.”
The conversation between these two generations of acclaimed actresses offered a rare glimpse into the challenges and rewards of their craft. Zendaya’s portrayal of Rue has earned her two Emmy Awards, making her the youngest two-time lead acting winner in Emmy history. Her candid discussion about the emotional toll of the role highlights the often-overlooked personal challenges actors face in bringing powerful stories to life.
