Zendaya just lined up her next movie, and it sounds empowering AF
In unsurprising news, Zendaya’s career trajectory continues to be extreme goals.
The latest news we’re stoked about? Zendaya will star in A White Lie. She’ll also produce alongside an up-and-coming actress named — you might have heard of her? — Reese Witherspoon. Since it’s just been announced, the details are sparse. But oh, man, does this film sound empowering.
A White Lie is a film adaptation of novel The Gilded Years by Karin Tanabe.
In A White Lie, Zendaya will star as Anita Hemmings, “a light-skinned African-American woman” who “passed as white so she could attend Vassar at the turn of the 20th century,” Deadline describes.
Here’s a bit more about the book:
“Since childhood, Anita Hemmings has longed to attend the country’s most exclusive school for women, Vassar College. Now, a bright, beautiful senior in the class of 1897, she is hiding a secret that would have banned her from admission: Anita is the only African-American student ever to attend Vassar,” a description of The Gilded Years reads.
“With her olive complexion and dark hair, this daughter of a janitor and descendant of slaves has successfully passed as white, but now finds herself rooming with Louise ‘Lottie’ Taylor, the scion of one of New York’s most prominent families.”
It’s particularly meaningful to cast Zendaya in the role of Hemmings, as she’s spoken openly about racial diversity, among other important issues. So naturally, we can’t wait to see her in the film.
Also, honestly, is there anything Zendaya can’t do?
She was the first actress of color to play Mary Jane Watson in 2017’s Spider-Man: Homecoming. In her upcoming movie, The Greatest Showman, she plays a pink-haired trapeze artist. And now, Zendaya will star in and produce alongside Academy Award-winner (and general legend) Reese Witherspoon in addition to Lauren Neustadter.
Which is to say, kudos to the great and powerful Zendaya.
