Hollywood star Zendaya has secured a historic contract with HBO, earning herself an eye-watering $1 million per episode for the third series of the popular show Euphoria. With this new contract, she is now one of the highest-paid actors on TV, further increasing her influence in the industry.
The 26-year-old actress, who received two Emmy Awards for her role as Rue Bennett, is now among the select group of TV actors with million-dollar salaries. This milestone in her career proves her talent and negotiation skills in Hollywood.
This milestone comes at the exact moment when Zendaya is dominating the entertainment business with irrefutable talent. Her salary boost makes her one of the highest-paid actors on TV, an elite club that includes the cast of Friends for the final seasons and the lead actors on Game of Thrones.
In 2020, she became the youngest to be awarded the Emmy for Lead Actress in a Drama Series. Two years later, she made history for the second time when she became the first Black woman to win the award for the second time. She also transitioned to the role of producer, for which she received an Outstanding Drama Series nomination. Though she did not win the award, the nomination was an accomplishment, proving her versatility and creative eye.
Zendaya gave an emotional speech at the 2022 Emmys.
“My hope for Euphoria most was that it would heal people, I just want to say thank you to every person who ever told me their story. If you’ve loved Rue or if you relate to being Rue, I want you to know I carry you with me.”
Zendaya’s record-breaking salary reflects the network’s commitment to the show, which has been acclaimed for its gritty and uncensored narrative. Boastful for its honest depiction of life for teens today, the show has an extensive fan base. Under the guidance of Zendaya, the network ensures the show never falters, even with potential production disruptions and schedule clashes.
Reports indicate that Season 3 will follow the same eight-episode format as the first two seasons. If so, Zendaya’s pay for the season can be an eye-opening $8 million. That’s a big leap from the pay for the rest of the cast, including Sydney Sweeney, who received $35,000 per episode for the previous seasons.
Zendaya’s new deal is part of an overall trend in the entertainment industry, with premium channels and streaming services paying record amounts to retain top-of-the-line talent. HBO’s signing is the most recent trend, including actors such as Michael Keaton (Dopesick) and Elisabeth Moss (Shining Girls), who secured million-dollar-an-episode deals.
This arrives at the exact moment when the call for equal pay in Hollywood is increasing. Zendaya’s salary surpasses Angela Bassett’s record for the highest-paid Black TV actress at $450,000 per episode for 9-1-1.
While the show’s fans anxiously await the new series, Zendaya is busy with other blockbuster projects. Her involvement with big-budget movies like Dune: Part Two and possibly reprising the Spider-Man franchise can interfere with production timetables. But the network’s willingness to negotiate such an expensive contract shows that they appreciate having Zendaya on the series.
