After a lengthy red carpet absence, Zendaya (29) and Tom Holland (30) posed side by side for photographers at the photo call for "Spider-Man: Brand New Day" in Madrid. The two actors last appeared together in 2021 during the promotion for "Spider-Man: No Way Home". That's when the stars confirmed their relationship.
The two were fashionably coordinated in the Spanish capital. Zendaya wore a corseted dress with a high leg slit and fringed skirt, while Holland wore a black suit with a bright red shirt peeking through - likely a small nod to his role as Spider-Man. Attentive observers also noticed a ring on Zendaya's ring finger, which further fueled the rumors of a secret wedding that have been circulating for months. In Madrid, the couple appeared very affectionate, embracing and gazing deeply into each other's eyes repeatedly.
He doesn't want to steal the show from her (and the films)
There's a reason why the couple, who met in 2016 during the filming of "Spider-Man: Homecoming", rarely appears together publicly. Speaking to "Men's Health" last year, Holland explained that he avoids walking the red carpet with his partner at premieres because it's not his moment but hers, and together it would only be about the relationship rather than the film.
This makes the Madrid appearance all the more notable. And it likely won't be the last joint appearance this year: In addition to their reunion as Peter Parker and MJ, Zendaya and Holland also appear together in Christopher Nolan's "Die Odyssee". The film is also scheduled to hit theaters in July.
"She's just fearless"
Holland recently gushed about working together on set. On the "Good Hang" podcast, he praised Zendaya's courage as an actress: "She's just fearless." She always approaches everything wholeheartedly. In the same conversation, he described how important it is to have someone by your side who knows the highs and lows of the industry from their own experience - for him, it's a lifeline.
Holland illustrated how much their relationship also shapes their work together with a specific scene. During the filming of "Brand New Day", he openly discussed with Zendaya that a scene wasn't working for them - something he would never have dared to do with another actress. Director Destin Daniel Cretton then calmly reacted, sent the crew home, and rewrote the scene with the screenwriter. The next day they reshot it, and he's convinced by the result in the finished film.
