I have been an avid follower of both Zendaya and Tom Holland (independently and as a couple) since before they were cast as Peter Parker and MJ in the MCU’s reboot of the iconic Spider-Man film series. From Shake It Up on Disney to starring in the musical Billy Elliot, Tom and Zendaya have long lived in the public eye. Now, it is almost impossible to discuss one without mentioning the other.

Initially, I set out to develop a timeline of “Tomdaya”, in light of speculation that the couple is recently engaged. However, I quickly found that Zedaya and Tom’s relationship has only been mapped very loosely on account of their desire to keep it primarily private. The press has scrambled for pictures and comments on the rare occasions the two are unseen together publicly, and the result leaves very little of their relationship timeline actually known. 

Rather than said timeline, it seems more fitting to look at “Tomdaya” as a bigger picture. They have followed almost every trope one could want in a relationship and, although you can never be quite sure, they genuinely seem to be good, happy people in love. So, here is an analysis of why Tom and Zendaya are the ideal Hollywood couple (or couple in general, for that matter), and why, if they ever break up, I will honestly no longer believe in love. 

A Note on Privacy 

Tom and Zendaya have both commented on the desire to keep aspects of their relationship private, and the challenges they have faced due to being so entrenched in the public eye both independently and as a couple. 

In a 2021 interview with GQ, Tom commented that “one of the downsides of our fame is that privacy isn’t really in our control anymore, and a moment that you think is between two people that love each other very much is now a moment that is shared with the entire world.” 

Similarly, Zendaya commented, "the equal sentiment [she and Tom share] is just that when you really love and care about somebody, some moments or things, you wish were your own.”

“Parts of my life, I accept, are going to be public,” she noted in a 2023 interview with Elle magazine. “I can’t not be a person and live my life and love the person I love. But also, I do have control over what I choose to share.”

As a result, this piece will aim not to discuss matters that Zendaya and Tom have selected to keep private and look primarily at comments from press tours and interviews, as well as those specifically shared by the couple.

Co-stars 

A classic Hollywood couple trope, co-stars falling in love is definitely not unheard of, especially when the characters they are playing are in a romantic relationship. However, while these relationships may not always last, it is clear that Tom and Zendaya have managed to make it work. 

Tom Holland has jokingly commented that starring alongside Zendaya is what actually made her fall for him. In a video with Buzzfeed, Tom claimed he has limited ‘rizz’, noting, “I need you to fall in love with me, really, for it to work. So, long game. Probably making a movie with each other. Definitely helps when the characters you’re playing are falling in love with one another—you can sort of blur the lines a little bit.”

Tom additionally has discussed how being in a relationship with someone in the same industry has actually allowed the couple to better understand each other and the unique challenges they each face. 

“I’m lucky that I have someone like Zendaya in my life,” Tom commented on an episode of the “SmartLess” podcast. “It’s interesting being in a romantic relationship with someone who is in the same boat as you…You can share your experiences and all that sort of stuff. And that’s worth its weight in gold.”

Friends to Lovers 

Beyond simply being co-stars, Tom and Zendaya evidently developed an extremely close friendship even before their romantic relationship. The press tour for Spider-Man: Homecoming in 2017, alongside co-star Jacob Batalon (Ned Leeds), was filled with uncontrollable laughter, affectionate bullying, and the occasional sincere compliment in the way of true friendship, revealing just how close Tom and Zendaya had gotten. 

In a Variety interview in the same year, Zendaya denied early dating rumours. "He's literally one of my best friends,” she said. “This past how many months we've had to do press tours together. There are very few people who will understand what that's like at 20 years old."

The gradual transition from best friends to romantic couple, getting to know someone genuinely before dating, is a classic relationship trope that, let’s face it, is basically the ideal way to find a partner. While Tom and Zendaya may have met as coworkers, it is clear that they quickly formed a close friendship and, in classic Monica and Chandler fashion, eventually became more than just friends. 

Extovert-Introvert 

Another relationship trope “Tomdaya” embodies is the extrovert-boyfriend, introvert-girlfriend dynamic that, as an introvert myself, is literally the ideal. 

In a video with Buzzfeed, Zendaya commented on this extrovert-introvert dynamic between herself and Tom, noting that his bright and outgoing personality is part of the reason she fell for him. 

“I’m more shy and kind of quiet, so it takes a little bit more to pull me out of my shell,” Zendaya stated. “But he’s great at just talking to people and getting to know people. You see him on talk shows and stuff like that. He’s just naturally very good at that. Whereas for me, I’ve definitely had to pull it out of me a little bit. So, he’s got that natural gift.”

Admiration  

A significant part of what makes Tomdaya such an ideal couple is Tom’s adamant admiration and devotion for Zendaya, which he is in no way afraid to share. Aside from the fact that his Instagram stories seem to feature Zendaya more than himself, Tom has demonstrated on multiple occasions how much he adores and respects her.

When asked in an interview with Men’s Health why Tom and Zendaya rarely appear together on red carpets, Tom replied, “because it’s not my moment, it’s her moment, and if we go together, it’s about us.”

In another interview with GQ, Tom commented that he feels he cannot discuss their relationship without Zendaya. “It’s not a conversation that I can have without her,” he continues. “You know, I respect her too much to say … This isn’t my story. It’s our story. And we’ll talk about what it is when we’re ready to talk about it together.”

Zendaya has similarly expressed her admiration for Tom and his work, and in particular how he handled the immense responsibility of becoming THE Spider-Man. 

“We were both very, very young, but my career was already kind of going, and his changed overnight. One day you’re a kid and you’re at the pub with your friends, and then the next day you’re Spider-Man,” Zendaya said in an interview with Vogue. “I definitely watched his life kind of change in front of him. But he handled it really beautifully.”

In Conclusion 

Ultimately, while considerably little is actually publicly known about Tom and Zendaya’s relationship, it is evident from what they do choose to share that “Tomdaya” is, without overstating it, possibly THE ideal couple. From every fairytale relationship trope they have followed, to the clear adoration they share for each other, Tom and Zendaya genuinely make me believe in love. Whether or not they are legitimately engaged now, it has been beautiful to see Zendaya and Tom grow, independently and together. No matter what happens, I will continue to support them (although I will definitely cry a little if they break up).

Emma Peters is a fourth-year student studying journalism and communications. She is passionate about all things music and pop culture, especially K-pop. You can most likely find her singing her heart out at a concert or crying her eyes out while looking through old concert videos