Tom Holland’s Birthday Tribute to Zendaya Is Adorably Candid

Tom Holland dropped a reminder for everyone of how smitten he is with his girlfriend Zendaya on her 27th birthday. The Spider-Man actor posted an Instagram Story, featuring a candid shot of Zendaya about to scuba dive. “My birthday girl ????,” he wrote.

Holland did not specify when exactly the shot was taken or if the activity was part of her actual birthday celebrations today.

Holland and Zendaya have made a point to keep their relationship of two years as private as possible. Zendaya addressed that choice during a new interview with ELLE for our September issue. She was asked if it’s a little easier to accept the interest in her and Holland knowing it is from fans who admire their relationship.

“Parts of my life, I accept, are going to be public,” she replied. “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. It’s about protecting the peace and letting things be your own but also not being afraid to exist. You can’t hide. That’s not fun, either. I am navigating it more than ever now.”

Zendaya noted that she saw a real shift in the level of attention she gets when out in public while shooting Challengers in Boston during March 2022. (Holland was photographed by fans visiting Zendaya there.) “After the last Spider-Man and the last season of Euphoria, there was a visceral change,” she said. “Before, I could get away with going places and getting in and out. But in Boston [last spring], I would end up going right back home, because it was really overstimulating. Everybody would go hang out at a bar or something, and I’d be like, ‘I’d love to, but I think I could ruin everybody’s night. Because it’s just not going to be fun once I’m there.’”

Senior News and Strategy Editor

Alyssa Bailey is the senior news and strategy editor at ELLE.com, where she oversees coverage of celebrities and royals (particularly Meghan Markle and Kate Middleton). She previously held positions at InStyle and Cosmopolitan. When she’s not working, she loves running around Central Park, making people take #ootd pics of her, and exploring New York City.