Zendaya and Tom Holland: Navigating Fame, Height Differences and Relationship Rumors

Please subscribe to our newsletter to receive updates from Your Next Shoes. This post may contain affiliate links. Please see our disclosure for more details.

While you would not expect her to be super tall, Zendaya is above-average height and towered over her co-star Tom Holland in the 2017 American superhero film Spider-Man: Homecoming.

Zendaya and Tom Holland: A Height Comparison

Measuring 5’10” (178 cm), she is significantly taller than Tom Holland, who measures 5’7″ (170 cm). The Greatest Showman actress even worried she would not get the role of Michelle in Spider-Man: Homecoming due to her height.

“I was worried because he’s so much shorter than me. I was like, ‘Damn it! It’s going to be weird because I’m super tall.’ But then we ended up doing the audition sitting. So that was good,” she said in an interview with Variety.

Tom Holland, Zendaya, Tom's younger brother Harry Holland, and Zendaya's Euphoria co-star Hunter Schafer attending a New York Rangers hockey gameTom Holland, Zendaya, Tom’s younger brother Harry Holland, and Zendaya’s Euphoria co-star Hunter Schafer attending a New York Rangers hockey game on February 17, 2022, at Madison Square Garden in New York City (Credit: Michael Simon / Startraksphoto)

Challenging Height Stereotypes in Hollywood

The two have shut down general issues about their height difference, saying that height stereotypes in heterosexual relationships are a “stupid assumption.”

While promoting Spider-Man: No Way Home on SiriusXM, Holland said, “It’s ridiculous. I remember when we were doing the Spider-Man screen tests, I mean, you’d have to ask [director] Jon Watts this question, but every girl we tested for both roles was taller than me. And I wonder whether that was a decision Jon had made, there was no-one who tested that was shorter than I was. To be fair, I am quite short. So maybe that’s a decision Jon Watts made, and something he was aware of, and he wanted to break the stereotype.”

Tom Holland is significantly shorter than his Spider-Man: Homecoming co-star ZendayaTom Holland is significantly shorter than his Spider-Man: Homecoming co-star Zendaya (Credit: Lexi Jones / WENN)

Zendaya’s Concerns Over Height Difference for Spider-Man Role

Zendaya agreed with Holland and mentioned that she appreciated that director Watts didn’t make Spider-Man artificially taller than MJ in the kissing scene.

“This is normal, too,” Zendaya said. “My mom is taller than my dad. My mom’s taller than everyone,” Zendaya revealed about her parents.

Since his first appearance in the Marvel movies, Holland has gone on to play Spider-Man five more times – Avengers: Infinity War, Avengers: Endgame, Spider-Man: Homecoming, Spider-Man: Far From Home, and Spider-Man: No Way Home.

“I was a gymnast when I was a kid, so I did a backflip, just to show Marvel that I could do that sort of stuff. I was like, ‘Hi, I’m Tom Holland.’ Backflip. ‘I’m from London.’ Side flip. ‘I’m five-foot-seven.’ Front flip. I had a lot of fun making those tapes,” Tom Holland told The Hollywood Reporter.

Zendaya worried that her height difference with Tom Holland would stop her from landing her role as MJ in the Spider-ManZendaya worried that her height difference with Tom Holland would stop her from landing her role as MJ in the Spider-Man (Credit: Lexi Jones / WENN)

“Basically, you have to do a thing called an Ident, which is where you send in a self-tape from a script that they sent you,” he recalled about his audition for Spider-Man: Homecoming in a roundtable interview with The Philippine Star.

“But before that, you have to give a brief summary of who you are and say how tall you are. Every actor lies so I told them I am five foot ten!”

Addressing Engagement Rumors: Zendaya and Tom Holland

In November 2022, rumors and headlines surfaced that Zendaya and Tom Holland were engaged. The rumors were shut down and denied by Zendaya’s mother, Claire Stoermer.

Although her Instagram post didn’t directly address the alleged engagement, many have deduced and are sure that it was about the pair’s ‘engagement.’

Her Instagram story read, “Clickbait typically refers to the practice of writing sensationalized or misleading headlines in order to attract clicks on a piece of content.

“It often relies on exaggerating claims or leaving out key information in order to encourage traffic.”

However, reports from sources close to the couple are that Tom Holland and Zendaya, who are both currently 26, are getting serious and ready to settle down.

Zendaya is much taller than Tom Holland when wearing high heelsZendaya is much taller than Tom Holland when wearing high heels (Credit: Oscar Gonzalez / WENN)

The Beginnings of Zendaya and Tom Holland’s Relationship

Meeting while working on Spider-Man: Homecoming in 2016, Tom Holland and Zendaya were quickly rumored to be dating. Five years later, in July 2021, they were captured kissing in Holland’s $125,000 Audi sports car.

A source told Us Weekly that they never planned to make their relationship public. “They’re private when it comes to dating, so any photos that have come out would’ve just been them going about their business and not knowing photographers were around,” the source said.

Another source also revealed to Us Weekly that Zendaya and Holland had a strong foundation as friends before they started dating.

“Zendaya and Tom started off as really great friends and stayed that way for a long while before things turned romantic.”

Actors Tom Holland, Laura Harrier, Tony Revolori, Jacob Batalon, and Zendaya attend the Marvel Studios presentation during Comic-Con International 2016Actors Tom Holland, Laura Harrier, Tony Revolori, Jacob Batalon, and Zendaya attend the Marvel Studios presentation during Comic-Con International 2016 at San Diego Convention Center on July 23, 2016, in San Diego, California (Credit: Vince Flores / Startraksphoto)

The source went on to say that they “work really well together because he makes her laugh and she really helps guide him through the world of celebrity.”

Zendaya and Tom Holland’s Dynamic Off-Screen

Zendaya opened up about her rumored boyfriend in an interview with InStyle published in October 2021. She was asked if she appreciates him more as a friend or as an actor.

“There are many things, obviously, that I appreciate. In an actor way, I appreciate that he really loves being Spider-Man. It’s a lot of pressure — you take on the role of a superhero wherever you go. To the little kid who walks by, you are Spider-Man. I think he handled that so well. And seeing him at work, even though he’s not a Virgo [laughs], he is a perfectionist.”

Zendaya and Tom Holland started dating after meeting while working on Spider-Man: Homecoming in 2016Zendaya and Tom Holland started dating after meeting while working on Spider-Man: Homecoming in 2016 (Credit: Columbia Pictures / Marvel Studios)

“Our director allowed me to come in every day [of the shoot], and it was cool to see how he cares so much about his work and making it right. I watched him do a fight scene all day, which is exhausting. He’d do a move, come back to the monitors, watch it, and say, ‘I can do that better.’ I’d be like, ‘Dude, you got it.’ But he wants us to be perfect, and I really appreciate that.”

“Yeah, he’s a fun time. Very charismatic, can make anybody feel comfortable and have a good laugh and a good chat. A good chat — I sound so British,” she added.

Navigating Fame Together: Zendaya’s Support for Holland

“We are like the best of friends. She’s so great and amazing,” Holland told People in 2017 before the dating rumors surfaced.

Tom Holland in full costume with his girlfriend Zendaya shooting Spider-Man: Far From HomeTom Holland in full costume with his girlfriend Zendaya shooting Spider-Man: Far From Home in the Big Apple on October 12, 2018, in New York City (Credit: Janet Mayer / Startraksphoto)

“I’m a little worried [about dealing with fame…but] 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.”

Holland found fame as Spiderman in Captain America: Civil War in 2016. Zendaya on the other hand has been very well known since the release of Disney’s Shake It Up in 2010. Zendaya was 14 at the series premiere on November 7, 2010.

“She was so helpful in the process of my life-changing, because not only are you making big films and you’re traveling the world, but everyone starts to know who you are,” Holland gushed in an interview with Backstage in February 2021.

“And you have to behave differently. You have a responsibility to kind of uphold this idea of being a role model to young kids. And, arguably, she’s the best at that. You can’t really find anything against Zendaya, she’s kind of like the perfect person. It was so wonderful to have someone like her in my corner, to help me grow through that process.”

Celebrating Height Differences: Zendaya and Holland on ‘The Graham Norton Show

When they appeared on “The Graham Norton Show” in December 2021, the couple joked about doing ‘Spider-Man’ stunts with their height difference.

Tom Holland and Zendaya joked about their height difference during a joint interview on “The Graham Norton Show”Tom Holland and Zendaya joked about their height difference during a joint interview on “The Graham Norton Show” on December 3, 2021 (Credit: The Graham Norton Show)

“Because of our height difference, if we’re on the same point — we were attached — I would land before him. My feet obviously hit the ground before he does,” she said about a stunt when her taller boyfriend is supposed to hold her while swinging them onto a bridge.

“And I’m the superhero. I’m supposed to look cool,” Holland added as Zendaya laughed. “And she would land… and my feet would swing from underneath me and then she would catch me.”

Gratitude in the Glamour: Zendaya’s Perspective

Jumping into one event after another, slipping into one outfit after the next, sitting on the makeup chair for hours — some celebrities may find this life too chaotic, or eventually routine, but in January 2016, Spider-Man: Homecoming star Zendaya was practicing gratefulness.

The actress shared her gratitude via Twitter right before the Golden Globes.

Zendaya wears her hair in a textured lob at the Art of Elysium 2016 HEAVEN GalaZendaya wears her hair in a textured lob at the Art of Elysium 2016 HEAVEN Gala held January 9, 2016, in Los Angeles (Credit: WENN / Brian To)

A day before the Golden Globes, Zendaya was photographed at the Art of Elysium 2016 Heaven Gala in Los Angeles.

Zendaya wears a two-piece white suit on the red carpetZendaya wears a two-piece white suit on the red carpet (Credit: WENN / Brian To / FayesVision)

Zendaya totally nailed androgynous dressing on the red carpet of the Art of Elysium x Vivienne Westwood event, wearing a white two-piece suit with a cropped top underneath.

Zendaya's feet in nude Christian Louboutin pumpsZendaya’s feet in nude Christian Louboutin pumps (Credit: WENN / FayesVision)

The then-19-year-old showed off her feet in nude “So Kate” heels from Christian Louboutin for her understated look.

Zendaya accents her two-piece white suit with several personalized necklacesZendaya accents her two-piece white suit with several personalized necklaces (Credit: WENN / FayesVision)

It must have been the dream of finally walking on the Golden Globes red carpet that got Zendaya to pause and revel in the moment.

We totally get her, though, since it had been a fantastic journey for the teenager (and yes, she was still a teenager).

Zendaya takes a moment to say thank youZendaya takes a moment to say thank you (Credit: Twitter)

Get these classic go-to pumps from Christian Louboutin at Mytheresa and Nordstrom.

Christian Louboutin "So Kate" Patent Leather PumpsChristian Louboutin “So Kate” Patent Leather Pumps, $675