LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA: Tom Holland once again opened up about his "scared" relationship with 'Spider-Man' co-star Zendaya, claiming that their shared experiences with fame helped them to understand one another. The 'Uncharted' actor, 27, explained why he and Zendaya, 26, get along so well during Monday's (July 3) episode of the Wondery podcast 'Smartless' which is hosted by Sean Hayes, Jason Bateman, and Will Arnett.
In the 'Spider-Man' trilogy, Holland and Zendaya shared an undeniable chemistry that transcends the screen, given that the two have a real-life connection that is quite unique. They have, however, been very protective of their private relationship and have kept it away from their public personas. In a recent cover article for The Hollywood Reporter, Holland discussed the importance of privacy in his relationship with Zendaya.
'I'm lucky that I have someone like Zendaya in my life'
Given his enormous fan base and the attention he receives, Hayes questioned the 27-year-old actor whether he felt any pressure or obligation to serve as a role model, which prompted the 'Spider-Man' actor's comments. As per People, during the 'Smartless' podcast interview, Holland said, "I'm lucky that I have someone like Zendaya in my life. It's interesting being in a romantic relationship with someone that is in the same boat as you."
The 'Crowded Room' actor further added, "You can share your experiences and all that sort of stuff. And that's worth its weight in gold. I understand the responsibility."
'She's the best'
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Holland and Zendaya first met through Sony and Marvel's remake of the 'Spider-Man' series. The actors initially appeared together in 'Spider-Man: Homecoming' in 2017 and reprised their roles in 'Spider-Man: Far From Home' and 'Spider-Man: No Way Home' in 2019 and 2021, respectively. Over time, the couple denied any dating rumors and stated that they were only friends. Holland often credited Zendaya with helping him deal with the attention after he was cast as Spider-Man.
In 2021, Holland told Backstage, "She was so helpful in the process of my life changing, because not only are you making big films and you're traveling the world, but everyone starts to know who you are. And you have to behave differently. You have a responsibility to kind of uphold this idea of being a role model to young kids. And, arguably, she's the best at that."
Holland further said, "One of the downsides of our fame is that privacy isn't really in our control anymore, and a moment that you think is between two people that love each other very much is now a moment that is shared with the entire world."
The stars have largely avoided discussing their relationship in public. They still manage to become viral when they're photographed visiting the Louvre Museum or enticing one another at a Beyonce event.
'As sacred as possible'
In a recent interview with BuzzFeed, Holland made fun of the fact that he lacked "rizz" or charisma and that he no longer needed it because he was content in his relationship. "I'm happy and in love, so I've got no need for rizz," he declared. Holland later admitted in the interview that Zendaya was truly his first love from back in the day. "Zendaya. Easily," he said without hesitation.
In a recent article for The Hollywood Reporter, Holland mentioned that they are "two very busy people" and prefer to keep their private lives secret. "Our relationship is something that we are incredibly protective of and we want to keep as sacred as possible," Holland said, adding, "We don’t think that we owe it to anyone, it’s our thing, and it has nothing to do with our careers."
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