Capturing the spotlight has never posed a hurdle for Zendaya, particularly on the red carpet or during prestigious award ceremonies. On Sunday night, the star of "The Challengers" shone brightly at the Golden Globe Awards held at the Beverly Hilton, where she garnered a nomination for Best Performance by a Female Actor in a Motion Picture – Musical or Comedy, marking a triumphant return to the Globes after a six-year hiatus.
Dressed in a stunning, custom-made Louis Vuitton ensemble adorned with Bulgari jewels (masterfully styled by Law Roach, as always), the 28-year-old Emmy Award winner turned heads as she gracefully navigated the red carpet. Inside the Beverly Hilton ballroom, The Hollywood Reporter caught a glimpse of Zendaya reconnecting with her "Euphoria" co-star and dear friend, Colman Domingo, who was also nominated for his role in "Sing Sing." In a heartwarming moment, she exchanged greetings with Adam Sandler just before the first award was presented.
As soon as the show commenced, host Nikki Glaser swiftly directed her attention towards Zendaya and her role in Denis Villeneuve's blockbuster series. "Zendaya, you were incredible in 'Dune,'" Glaser exclaimed. "I stayed up just for your scenes; you were that good."
Glaser's next joke took a sharper turn, maintaining her focus on Zendaya. "And 'Challengers,' girl, it was so good. It had more sexual tension than Diddy's credit card," she joked, referencing the music mogul's current legal woes, including accusations of kidnapping, drugging, and coercing women into sexual activities, which have led to his incarceration at the Metropolitan Detention Center in Brooklyn pending trial. He faces over 25 lawsuits stemming from allegations of sexual misconduct.
Moments later, Zendaya's name was mentioned again in a joke when Glaser recounted a backstage encounter with "Shrinking" nominee Harrison Ford, whom she claimed asked if he'd prefer to work with Zendaya or Ariana. "He said 'indica,'" Glaser quipped, playfully referencing Ford's rumored fondness for cannabis.
Despite the jokes, Zendaya, who arrived at the Globes accompanied by her best friend and assistant Darnell Appling, was spotted sharing a table with Andrew Scott inside the ballroom, while her "Challengers" director posed in front of it with his CAA agent Bryan Lourd. However, even with her BFF by her side, Zendaya sparked engagement rumors with her beau Tom Holland by wearing a dazzling diamond ring on her ring finger.
Throughout the telecast, candid clips emerged featuring Zendaya in a new outfit, chatting animatedly with Ayo Edebiri during a commercial break. Shortly after, her category was announced, and although the trophy ultimately went to "The Substance" star Demi Moore, Zendaya was seen warmly applauding and acknowledging Moore's victory.
