Quiet Ambition vs Relentless Drive: Zendaya and Sydney Sweeney’s Hollywood Playbook
Zendaya and Sydney Sweeney have carved out unique paths in Hollywood. One keeps a low profile and chooses roles carefully, while the other hustles hard and courts attention. Discover how their different approaches have shaped their careers.
Two of the brightest talents to come out of Euphoria, Zendaya and Sydney Sweeney, have each taken a distinct approach to making their mark in the film industry. Both started young—Zendaya first caught the public’s eye on Disney’s Shake It Up, while Sweeney landed early TV gigs as a preteen. Their breakout moments arrived with Euphoria, and since then, they’ve each found their own rhythm in the business.
Zendaya: Selective Choices and Artistic Focus
Zendaya’s reputation rests on her knack for picking roles that let her show off her range, from the awkward charm of MJ in Spider-Man: Homecoming to the rawness she brought to Rue in Euphoria. She’s not one to jump at every offer. After her Disney days, she moved into more serious territory with parts in The OA and Euphoria, and even flexed her singing chops in The Greatest Showman. Her filmography includes the likes of Malcolm & Marie, Dune: Part One, and the box office smash Spider-Man: No Way Home.
In 2024, she returned to the big screen with the Dune sequel and the much-talked-about Challengers. She’s got a busy 2026 lined up, with roles alongside Tom Holland in Christopher Nolan’s The Odyssey, another Marvel outing, and a return as Chani in Dune 3. There’s also a new project with Robert Pattinson on the cards.
Sydney Sweeney: All-In Promotion and Risky Moves
Sweeney’s journey has been anything but quiet. She’s become known for her bold promotional tactics and willingness to take risks, even if it means copping a bit of flak. In 2025, she stirred up headlines with a bathwater soap stunt and a controversial ad campaign—both of which ended up being lucrative. Her career has been about generating buzz, whether through her work or her marketing savvy.
Before a string of less successful films, Sweeney made waves with Euphoria and Anyone But You. She’d already put in the hard yards with small roles in shows like Criminal Minds and Grey’s Anatomy, and her turn as Cassie Howard in Euphoria earned her an Emmy nod. Despite setbacks and rejections—one casting director told her she’d never land a TV show—she’s kept at it. Her latest, The Housemaid, has been praised for its energy and cheeky appeal, fitting the pattern of her recent choices.
Comparing Their Pay Packets and Net Worth
When it comes to pay, there’s been a noticeable gap between the two. Zendaya, with her Marvel credentials, was reportedly earning $300,000 per Spider-Man film and is believed to have made at least $500,000 per Euphoria episode. Her post-Euphoria projects have seen her salary climb, with $2 million for Spider-Man: No Way Home, $2 million for Dune: Part Two, and a hefty $10 million for Challengers.
Sweeney, meanwhile, was paid $350,000 for 13 episodes of Euphoria. She’s since taken on both acting and producing roles, earning $2.25 million for Anyone But You (including a producer’s fee), $750,000 for Madame Web, and $7.5 million for The Housemaid. Her net worth is now estimated at $40 million, edging out Zendaya’s $30 million, thanks in part to her business ventures and producing credits.
Different Paths, Same Spotlight
Zendaya’s approach is all about the craft, often choosing complex, challenging characters. She’s said she’s drawn to roles that make audiences feel conflicted, explaining,
[I want to play characters] who are complicated… unlikable, unlovable, or irredeemable.
Her love for acting started early, watching performers at the California Shakespeare Theater, where her mum worked.
I learned about my love for acting from the stage. My mum worked at the California Shakespeare Theater since I was a kid. So I really fell in love with acting because of actors I got to see on stage every day since I was two. It was my life. And I just was obsessed with what they were doing. I didn’t really understand it. All that said, this felt like a full-circle moment for me.
Sweeney, on the other hand, has built her profile through relentless self-promotion and a willingness to try just about anything to get noticed. She’s faced her share of criticism, but her hustle has paid off, both in terms of roles and financial rewards. Both have found their own way to stand out, showing there’s more than one way to make it big in the industry.