Zendaya drops surname to be ‘cool’

Zendaya dropped her surname because she wanted to be "cool".

The 20-year-old actress – whose full name is Zendaya Maree Stoermer Coleman – has revealed she decided to cut her full name down because she wanted to make a statement and to be like the late music legend Prince, whose full name was Prince Rogers Nelson, and fellow vocalist Cher.

Speaking to Allure magazine about the reason she changed her name, the brunette beauty said: "I [dropped my last name because I] just thought it was cool, like Cher or Prince."

And the Disney actress – who played the role of Rocky Blue in the programme ‘Shake It Up’ alongside Bella Thorne – has hinted everything in her life has been "a climb" for her, and she has had to work hard to be successful, although her upbringing has made her appreciate "everything" a lot more.

She explained: "Everything has been a climb. And I’ve been able to take my family and friends with me. I came from humble beginnings.

"I’ve never had a pool before," she says, making a grand, sweeping gesture with her arm that takes in the newly planted baby palm trees and all of the unfurnished rooms inside. "I’ve never lived in a house this beautiful. I appreciate everything so much more because everything I have has been worked for."

And Zendaya – who has been cast in the forthcoming ‘Spider-Man: Homecoming’ opposite Tom Holland – has revealed she doesn’t want to get to a point in her career where she doesn’t enjoy what she does, and has revealed she has to be doing something "fun and creative".

She explained: "I waited and waited for the right part, and now I get to be in ‘Spider- Man’.

"It’s OK to be focused, but I can’t get to a point where I don’t like what I’m doing. It’s got to be fun and creative and good."

And the star has revealed she also wants to "impress" people with her acting skills and her achievements.

She told Allure magazine: "I want people to be impressed."