Hollywood star Zendaya set to embrace her Scottish roots…with a vacation in Dundee
She might be one of Hollywood’s biggest names, but Zendaya is proud of her Scottish roots.
The Spider-Man and Dune star has now hinted that she is planning a trip to Dundee – the city her hero great-grandfather hailed from.
The 28-year-old actress and pop singer, also known for her role in The Greatest Showman, wants to visit the City of Discovery to learn more about her family heritage.
In an interview with the Mail last year her mother Claire Stoermer said her daughter was proud of her Scottish ancestry after learning that her great-grandfather Douglas Whitelaw was a World War One soldier who hailed from the city.
Speaking from her California home at the time, she said: ‘She hasn’t been to Scotland yet, but I know she’d love to visit some time.’
Now the actress, who is regularly spotted out and about with boyfriend Tom Holland in London, has reaffirmed the idea of trip north of the Border.
Her great-grandfather, who left Dundee for Vancouver in 1911 when he was around 15, was injured fighting with the Canadian Highlanders in France during World War One.
Zendaya, who is famed for playing MJ in the Spider-Man franchise, told the Sunday Mail newspaper: ‘I haven’t visited Dundee but it’s a place I really want to visit. I know my great-grandfather was an incredibly brave man and I can’t wait to find out more about him and my Scottish family.’
Zendaya is one of the biggest names in Hollywood – but she has Scottish roots
Zendaya played MJ in the Spider-Man franchise
From Hollywood hills to the City of Discovery – Zendaya plans to visit Dundee, the home of her war hero great-grandfather
Mr Whitelaw, who returned to Canada with shrapnel wounds after being shot in the shoulder while in the trenches, went on to marry Canadian Thelma Kelly.
Their daughter – Zendaya’s maternal grandmother Daphne Carol – was born in Vancouver and went to the US to study, where she met Ms Stoermer’s father.
Ms Stoermer married Zendaya’s father, Kazembe Coleman, who has Nigerian roots.
The star, who is currently filming The Drama with Twilight star Robert Pattinson, however, remains proud of her Scottish heritage, even down to the attire.
She said: ‘The females in our family love tartan. With our connections it makes wearing tartan that bit more special.’
The actress, however, has yet to play a Scottish character, admitting: ‘I would only ever do an accent in a movie if I was confident it sounded authentic.
‘When I come to visit Scotland I will have to see if I am any good.’
Other famous Scots with links to Dundee include Harry Potter actress Katie Leung and Deacon Blue’s Ricky Ross.
