She made history after becoming the youngest nominee to win a Primetime Emmy in the category for Outstanding Lead Actress.
But Zendaya admits she was terrified about the prospect of accepting her award – recognition for her starring role in US drama Euphoria – despite appearing at the show’s 72nd annual ceremony remotely from her family home.
Speaking to fellow star Timothée Chalamet while featuring as cover girl for the December issue of ELLE, the 24-year old revealed she eased her nervousness by writing a short, optimistic speech that directly referenced her own generation.
Opening up: Zendaya has reflected on her historic Emmy Award win while appearing as cover girl for the December issue of ELLE
She recalled: ‘I was nervous about the possibility of having to get up and speak. So I was like, “Okay, let me just write down a few little bullet points.”
‘Usually I would just go up there and say what’s in my heart, but everybody was like, “No, I think you should definitely write something down.”
‘So the day of, I just wrote a little thing down to have just in case. And that was very helpful. I was very nervous, but I’m glad my family was there. Everybody was there and screaming, as my family does!’
Let’s talk: The actress revealed her nervousness while accepting her award at the event, which took place remotely
Read all about it: The full interview is available in the December issue of ELLE , on sale from 10 November 2020
Despite her evident joy at being surrounded by her loved ones while accepting the award, Zendaya admitted she was concerned that their characteristically boisterous nature might overshadow her speech.
She added: ‘We are a very loud family, and I was worried that they were going to be screaming for too long. And the little clock would start ticking, and I’d be like, “Ah, thank you.” And then it would be over.
‘I got to feel all fancy and put on this beautiful custom gown and do my hair and makeup and then just be with my family in the living room, which was actually quite nice.
‘And we got to take pictures in the house, so I knew I would be happy with them.’
The actress used her eventual speech to reach out to young people disaffected by the Trump administration, racial division and the ongoing coronavirus crisis.
And she admitted the aim was to instill hope into young people of her own generation, and the belief that things will get better.
‘Well, my intention there was really just to be honest, because it feels like a very hopeless time, specifically in this country,’ she said.
‘I know a lot of my peers feel enraged and exhausted and tired of living and growing up in a system that feels like it wasn’t built for us. At this moment in time, it is hard to find joy and beauty in things, and I really think that is important.
‘Right now, we as Black people need to embrace joy and not let it be taken away from us.’
Special moment: Zendaya was surrounded by her loved ones as she accepted her Emmy Award for Outstanding Lead Actress from home at the show’s 72nd annual ceremony in September
Speaking before news of a potentially groundbreaking coronavirus vaccine was announced, Zendaya also looked ahead to life beneath the shadow of COVID-19, and the one thing she cant wait to resume once it is finally over.
‘I think that things are going to stay different for quite a long time,’ she said. ‘We’re probably going to have a new normal to keep people safe and healthy, which I’m totally down for.
‘I mean, I love traveling. I don’t feel super-safe traveling all over the place quite yet, but I can’t wait to get back to it. I think that’s one of the beautiful parts of our job.’
She added: ‘Luckily I’ve been able to work, so I’m grateful for that, being able to work safely. I do miss being able to actually go to the movies. But you know what? All of that can wait.’
The December issue of ELLE is on sale from 10 November 2020.