Hollywood’s New IT Girls: The Women Taking Over Film & TV – Zendaya, Ariana Greenblatt, Jenna Ortega, and More

In honor of Women’s Month, it is only fitting to celebrate the success of this generation’s female performances in film and television.

Z e n d a y a

Between blockbuster films like the “Dune” series (2024) and the Marvel Cinematic Universe’s renewed “Spider-Man” series (2021) and tackling darker themes in HBO’s “Euphoria” (2019), Zendaya’s range speaks for itself. She is able to sink into every role she’s been given and give a performance of a lifetime. Zendaya captivates the screen using subtle facial expressions, exudes emotional vulnerability, and draws audiences closer to the story through her demanding presence on screen. Her recent lead performance as Tashi Donaldson in Luca Guadagnino’s “Challengers” (2024) is nothing short of stunning as she tackles a complex and driven character. But perhaps, her best performance is yet to come. She is set to star in “The Drama”, “Shrek 5”, “The Odyssey”, “Dune Messiah”, “Spider-Man 4”, and season three of “Euphoria” all within the next few years.

A y o E d e b i r i

After gaining popularity from her critically acclaimed performance as Sydney Adamu in “The Bear” (2022), Ayo has gone on to join Disney-Pixar’s “Inside Out 2” (2024) ensemble as well as joining Marvel and Sony’s “Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse” (2023), starring in an episode of Netflix’s “Black Mirror” (2024), and recently leading the new horror and thriller film “Opus” (2025). Edebiri’s charisma and wittiness add a vital charm to the screen and uplifts dialogue into its highest form. She has proven with her performances that Edebiri is a masterclass in weaving comedy into drama, and vice versa. Edebiri’s upcoming projects include Marvel’s “Thunderbolts*”, a new thriller “After the Hunt”, and “Ella McCay”, all set to release in 2025.

S a d i e S i n k

The 22-year-old made her acting debut in season two of Netflix’s “Stranger Things” (2016) and has lit up the frame ever since. Her passion and dedication to each performance bring nuanced life to the characters she portrays. Following the same themes as the critically acclaimed Netflix show, Sink has starred in the “Fear Street” (2021), a young adult slasher series based on R.L. Stine’s work. She also worked on Taylor Swift’s “All Too Well” (2021) short film playing a younger version of the singer, portraying the vulnerable perspective of a woman in an intricate relationship with a man who treats her as an afterthought. Sink’s emotional intensity demands to be watched in the Oscar-winning film “The Whale” (2022) as she tackles resentment, longing, and angst. It was just announced that Sink will be joining Tom Holland and Zendaya in the new “Spider-Man” installment. Her recent musical project “O’Dessa” is now available to stream on Hulu. Until then, the star’s final season of  “Stranger Things” is set to release sometime this year.

A r i a n a G r e e n b l a t t

Greenblatt has already compiled quite a list of achievements in her acting career. From playing a younger Gamora in “Avengers: Infinity War” (2019) to starring alongside Margot Robbie, America Ferrera, and Ryan Gosling in Greta Gerwig’s “Barbie” (2024), this talented actress is on the rise in Hollywood. Greenblatt originally starred in Disney Channel’s “Stuck in the Middle” (2016) TV series, which jump started her acting career on the big screen. Her natural-born talent matched with Greenblatt’s hard work she pours into the craft is especially evident in "65" (2023), opposite Adam Driver, and an award winning Disney Plus series “Ahsoka” (2023). Greenblatt’s charm is magnetic, which she skillfully uses to her advantage in portraying complex emotions and human connection. She is the newest addition to the "Now You See Me" franchise, scheduled for release on November 14, 2025, and is starring in "Fear Street: Prom Queen", set to release in Spring 2025.

J e n n a O r t e g a

Starring alongside Ariana Greenblatt, Jenna Ortega started her acting career in the Disney series “Stuck in the Middle” as well as “Bizaardvark” (2016). Her natural and compelling acting abilities led her to many opportunities showcasing her talent, like playing Young Jane in the popular TV series “Jane the Virgin” (2014) and Ellie Alves in the psychological thriller “You” (2018). Ortega found her muse in the “Wednesday” (2022) Netflix series based on the iconic Wednesday Addams of “The Addams Family” (1991). Her intense, earnest, and theatrical performances are powerfully constructed by Ortega’s adaptive skill to navigate each of her character’s psyche. Ortega has recently starred in the latest installment of “Scream” (2022), Tim Burton’s “Beetlejuice” sequel (2024), and the thriller “Miller’s Girl” (2024). “Wednesday” will be returning to Netflix with its second season sometime this year, and “Death of a Unicorn” releasing on March 28th.

T a y l o r R u s s e l l

After gaining recognition for her performance in Netflix’s series “Lost in Space” (2018), Russell has continued to push the boundaries of on-screen presence and voice. With characters such as Maren in “Bones and All” (2022) and Emily in “Waves” (2019), the actress exudes great strength in her emotional intelligence to bring further depth to her characters. Russell proved herself to be an alluring, mysterious, and masterful lead in these films, and she starred in the psychological horror film series “Escape Room” (2021). Making her directorial debut in the documentary short “The Heart Still Hums” (2020), Russell begs audiences to dive deeper into their empathy and rumination for important worldly struggles. She is set to star in the upcoming "The Thomas Crown Affair" remake, and Korean thriller “Hope”.