Zendaya has built one of the most celebrated runs in prestige television history with Euphoria, and the compliments keep coming from the most unexpected places.
Euphoria creator Sam Levinson recently sat down with Bradley Cooper for a wide-ranging Interview Magazine conversation ahead of the show’s expected series finale. The two covered everything from the craft of filmmaking to their shared experiences with addiction and recovery. But one moment from the interview has taken on a life of its own online.
Bradley Cooper ‘Floored’ By Zendaya’s Euphoria Performances
Cooper was effusive when Zendaya came up in conversation, telling Levinson directly that he had never encountered a performer quite like her.
“And I just have to say, Zendaya, I don’t think I’ve come across an actor that’s floored me like that. I mean, it’s like Elizabeth Taylor meets Marlon Brando. And in the movie you made during COVID, she’s so incredible,” he said.
Levinson echoed the sentiment, calling her exceptional and pointing to her rare combination of likability, work ethic, and raw talent as the qualities that made Rue Bennett one of television’s most compelling characters.
It is high praise from someone who knows the craft deeply. Cooper has directed and starred in some of the most acclaimed films of the past decade, including A Star Is Born and Maestro, and is widely regarded as one of the most technically thoughtful actors working today. For him to single out Zendaya in those terms carries real weight.
Zendaya has won two Emmy Awards for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama Series for her portrayal of Rue, a teenager battling addiction, making her the youngest two-time winner in that category in Emmy history. Euphoria Season 3 is currently airing on HBO and Max, with the series finale out on May 31.
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