Zendaya: 10 greatest performances of all time
By Reed Gaudens
10. The OA
Original Release Date: The first season of The OA originally premiered on Netflix on December 16, 2016. Zendaya appeared in three episodes of The OA’s second season, known as Part II, which premiered on the platform on March 22, 2019.
Critical Acclaim: The OA received praise when the first season was released in 2016, earning an impressive 77% fresh rating on Rotten Tomatoes. The series became one of the most talked-about Netflix originals at the time.
However, The OA’s second season grew on that success and garnered even better reviews. Season 2 holds a stellar 94% rating on Rotten Tomatoes. We could attribute that to Zendaya’s three-episode presence, but that wouldn’t necessarily be true.
About the Role: Zendaya steps into the minor supporting role of Fola Uzaki, and she first appears in the first episode of Part II. Although a small character, Fola plays a key role in the season, as a gamer and puzzle enthusiast who helps Karim with the overarching mystery of the narrative. To further explain Fola would give away too much of the ins and outs of The OA, and this is the kind of show (and the kind of role) that’s far better experienced than spoiled.
Simply the Best: Given Zendaya’s limited body of work, which includes a fair amount of voice roles and guest roles (many on the Disney Channel), it’s all the more welcome to watch the young star branch out into compelling and left-of-center acting choices as she embarks on an adult career in film and television.
Following a knockout introduction on the big screen, Zendaya primed fans new and old with a memorable turn in a challenging Netflix original. Sure, it’s not exactly the largest or most pivotal role, but showing up on The OA definitely got people talking.