Zendaya Dedicates Special Gotham Award forChallengersto Her Mom

Mar. 15, 2025

Zendaya on December 02, 2024 in New York City.Photo:Dia Dipasupil/WireImage

Dia Dipasupil/WireImage

Zendayais having an auspicious start to this season’s awards race and is thanking her mother for her support.

Wearing aLouis Vuitton halter-neck white sheath dresswith an open back, Zendaya took the stage at New York City’s Cipriani Wall Street on Dec. 2 to accept the honor.

“To my mom. My mom’s here tonight; she’s embarrassed,” she declared in honor of her mother,Claire Stoermer, in the middle of her speech.

The actress also thanked the people she works with throughout her speech, “Without all of them, none of this is possible,” she said. “So, really, I just have to say thank you to my community of filmmakers, producers, wardrobe, costumes, hair, and makeup.”

She continued: “I mean, yes, I get to be up here, and I get to do it, but my character is only an amalgamation of the beautiful ideas of the amazing, creative people around me.”

Zendaya in New York on Dec. 2.ANGELA WEISS/AFP via Getty

ANGELA WEISS/AFP via Getty

Zendaya played tennis hotshot Tashi Duncan inChallengers, which costarredJosh O’ConnorandMike Faistas Tashi’s on-and-off lovers and fellow tennis stars. The Justin Kuritzkes-penned film earned rave reviews upon its April 26 release and earned a Gotham nomination for best feature. Composers Trent Reznor and Atticus Ross are Grammy-nominated for best soundtrack score.

Throughout her speech, Zendaya noted how “lucky” she was to work with her “brilliant” castmates. She also thanked Kuritzkes, 34, for “creating a bold and brilliant character like Tashi,” adding, “I’m grateful that you allowed me to be her.”

The Emmy winner also thanked director Guadagnino. “To Luca, for bringing this thing to life for his, I mean, visionary eye, the way he sees character and humanness and is always so empathetic to all the characters,” she said.

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Claire Stoermer and Zendaya at The Four Seasons Hotel Los Angeles on October 14, 2019 in Beverly Hills, California.Michael Kovac/Getty

Michael Kovac/Getty

In a statement calling Zendaya “magnetic,” Jeffrey Sharp, executive director of The Gotham Film & Media Institute, also praised her other recent work. “Her performances inDune: Part One,Dune: Part Two, andEuphoriahave made her one of the most captivating actors of her generation," Sharp said.

Zendaya is expected to return to her two-time Emmy-winning role on HBO’sEuphoriafor its third season, and hasjoinedher boyfriendTom Hollandonscreen inChristopher Nolan’s upcoming movie.

source: people.com