Zendaya‘s trip to Paris Fashion Week was so quick it was like a dream. “I don’t think I was there long enough to get jet lag,” he says Vanity Fair. But Zendaya still made quite the impression when she sat front row at the Louis Vuitton show, setting the internet on fire with her balloon skirt and structured blazer — though she was the last person to know. “I kind of stay away from that,” she says of online fashion discourse. “I understand everything with second-hand information. My mom will say: ‘Oh my God, I love your outfit.’ ‘Oh, did you see?’ I asked. And he would say, ‘Yes, girl.’ What?’” Filling Zendaya out is a trait that runs in the family. “My grandmother is known to know my schedule better than I do because she follows everything about me online,” he says. “I’ll call him and he’ll say: ‘You can’t actually come to this thing because that’s when you’re filming it.’ ‘How do you know this?’ I asked.

My grandma definitely had a lot on her plate this year to keep up with Zendaya. Long after she established herself as television’s darling and returned home two lead actor Emmys as Rue Enthusiasm, Zendaya has proven that she is a true movie star. In March, she reprized her role as rebellious love interest Chani. Timothée Chalametmessiah paul for part two Denis VilleneuveOscar-winning science fiction series, Dune. After just two months, it served both physically and figuratively. Luca Guadagnino‘s Challengers. This movie was a huge success; rare critical and commercial success that exceeded expectations at the box office (grossing almost $100 million worldwide to date on a $55 million budget). Zendaya commanded both the screen and her workout buddy Art Donaldson as the young tennis star transformed into disheveled pro coach Tashi Duncan (Mike Faist) and Patrick Zweig (Josh O’Connor), as the focal point of the hottest summer months love triangle.

“What I’ve been really lucky about is working with great filmmakers and great collaborators, people who really support your ideas and guide you along the way,” he says. We’re excited to have Zendaya as part of our project 2025 Hollywood Issue. Here’s more from her interview with him V.F.

Vanity Fair: you are a fashion icon. You’re making big moves. Do you ever worry about your clothes?

: Sometimes of course. I also think fashion is a tool for me in many ways. I consider myself a more shy person, which I guess you wouldn’t quite know from the crazy, sometimes ridiculous things I wear. But this is my armor. I can fall into these characters. Law (cockroach) and I love creating these other people. Sometimes we give them names; No, I’m kidding… I mean, sometimes we put it. (He laughs.) We give them little backstories. But it’s true, it helps create that little personality every time you go out. I just embody this girl; Whoever this woman is tonight. This makes the whole process easier because it’s not you; It’s a version of you. It’s less “What am I doing?” and more “This is really cool and fun.” It sounds like. It’s almost like a little acting exercise.

Before I continue, I have to say this: We have the same birthday, September 1st.

September 1st, let’s go! It’s a great day.

Does Virgo have any characteristics?

Very much so. I connect deeply. Are you doing it?

Oh yes. Wanting to be in control.

Oh my God, yes. But I’m learning how to deal with it. I think the reason I love my job so much is that you have a certain level of control when you’re playing someone who isn’t yourself. You might say: “Actually, I wouldn’t make that decision. “I wouldn’t make that choice, no matter what.” I can get lost in someone else’s decisions and choices, and because it’s not me, I can’t be so critical of myself.

clothing and shoes Alaia; earrings Bulgari; call Bulgari High Jewellery.Photograph by Gordon von Steiner; Designed by George Cortina.