Who is Tom Holland? He is an English actor best known for playing Spider-Man, and the husband of the actress Zendaya. Born on June 1, 1996, in Kingston upon Thames, near London, he started out as a child star on stage in Billy Elliot the Musical and went on to lead some of the most successful films ever made. In 2026, Spider-Man: Brand New Day broke box office records around the world.
In this profile we explain who Tom Holland is: his family, his early career, how he became Spider-Man, his long relationship with Zendaya and the huge year he has had in 2026.
Tom Holland at a glance
| Fact | Details |
|---|---|
| Full name | Thomas Stanley Holland |
| Born | June 1, 1996, Kingston upon Thames, England |
| Known for | Spider-Man, The Impossible, Uncharted |
| Spouse | Zendaya (marriage confirmed in 2026) |
| Parents | Dominic Holland and Nicola Frost |
| Brothers | Sam, Harry and Paddy Holland |
| Business | BERO, a non-alcoholic drinks brand |
| Zodiac sign | Gemini |
A creative family
Tom grew up in Kingston upon Thames, in south-west London, the oldest of four brothers. His father, Dominic Holland, is a stand-up comedian and author, and his mother, Nicola Frost, is a photographer. His younger brothers, twins Sam and Harry and the youngest, Paddy, have all worked in film too, as actors or on the production side, and they often appear together in Tom’s social media posts.
The family also runs a charity together, The Brothers Trust, which supports a range of small charities in the UK and beyond. Tom has often said that his brothers keep him grounded and that his family is the most important thing in his life.
The Holland family
| Name | Relation to Tom | Known for |
|---|---|---|
| Dominic Holland | Father | Comedian and author |
| Nicola Frost | Mother | Photographer |
| Sam Holland | Brother | Actor |
| Harry Holland | Brother | Actor and producer |
| Paddy Holland | Brother | Works in film |
| Zendaya | Wife | Actress and producer |
Billy Elliot and early roles
Tom started dancing as a child, and at the age of 10 he was spotted at a dance show by a choreographer from Billy Elliot the Musical in London’s West End. After two years of training he took over the title role in 2008, playing Billy for around two years.
His screen breakthrough came in 2012 with The Impossible, a drama about a family caught in the 2004 Indian Ocean tsunami, alongside Naomi Watts and Ewan McGregor. Critics praised his performance, and he won several awards for young actors. In 2017 he received the BAFTA Rising Star Award, which is voted for by the public.
Becoming Spider-Man
In 2015, Marvel Studios and Sony announced that Tom would be the new Spider-Man, beating many other young actors to the part. He made his debut in Captain America: Civil War in 2016, and the following year he led his first solo film, Spider-Man: Homecoming.
- Captain America: Civil War (2016)
- Spider-Man: Homecoming (2017)
- Avengers: Infinity War (2018)
- Avengers: Endgame (2019)
- Spider-Man: Far From Home (2019)
- Spider-Man: No Way Home (2021)
- Spider-Man: Brand New Day (2026)
Fans loved his version of Peter Parker as a funny, nervous teenager, closer to the comic books than earlier film versions. Spider-Man: No Way Home, released in 2021, became one of the highest-grossing films of all time, earning more than 1.9 billion dollars worldwide.
Meeting Zendaya
Tom met Zendaya on the set of Spider-Man: Homecoming in 2016, where she played his classmate Michelle, known as MJ. For years they insisted they were just friends, and they kept their private life very private. Photos of them kissing were published in 2021, and soon afterwards they confirmed they were a couple.
In January 2025, Zendaya wore a large diamond ring at the Golden Globes, and reports soon confirmed that Tom had proposed. In March 2026, her stylist Law Roach told reporters on a red carpet that the wedding had already happened, and in June 2026 Tom himself confirmed in an interview that they were married.
Tom Holland and Zendaya relationship timeline
| Date | Milestone |
|---|---|
| 2016 | Meet while filming Spider-Man: Homecoming |
| 2021 | Their relationship becomes public |
| January 2025 | Engagement revealed at the Golden Globes |
| March 2026 | Law Roach says the wedding has already happened |
| June 2026 | Tom confirms that they are married |
| July 2026 | Star together in The Odyssey and Spider-Man: Brand New Day |
Tom Holland and Zendaya age difference
Tom and Zendaya are almost exactly the same age. Tom was born on June 1, 1996, and Zendaya on September 1, 1996, so Tom is three months older. They were both around 20 when they met on the Homecoming set, and both turned 30 in 2026.
Stage, TV and other projects
Tom has also taken on roles that are very different from Spider-Man. He starred in the adventure film Uncharted in 2022 and played a troubled young man in the Apple TV+ series The Crowded Room in 2023. In 2024 he returned to the London stage as Romeo in a modern production of Romeo and Juliet, which sold out quickly.
Off screen, he launched BERO, a brand of non-alcoholic beer, in 2024. He has spoken openly about his decision to stop drinking alcohol and has said that the brand grew out of wanting good drinks for people who choose not to drink.
The spoiler king
Tom is famous among Marvel fans for accidentally giving away plot details. In his early years as Spider-Man he let slip secrets about upcoming films in interviews and live streams so often that Marvel reportedly began giving him fake scripts or only the pages he needed. His co-stars have joked about it for years, and Tom himself has embraced the reputation with good humour.
Those moments, along with his viral dance videos and his energetic press tours, have helped make him one of the most likeable stars of his generation. Fans often say he seems genuinely excited to be part of the films he makes, which is not always the case in Hollywood. Directors who have worked with him often describe him as hard-working, well prepared and kind to everyone on set, from fellow actors to the crew.
Life away from the cameras
Despite his fame, Tom keeps a fairly low profile when he is not working. He is a keen golfer and often plays with his brothers and friends. He has also spoken about taking breaks from social media to protect his mental wellbeing, and he usually lets his family and close friends know about big news before he shares it with the world.
He and Zendaya both travel constantly for work, often filming on different continents at the same time, and they have said that making time for each other between projects is a priority. Both are known for keeping their relationship out of the spotlight, rarely posting about each other and only occasionally appearing together at public events. That privacy is one reason why the news of their wedding took so long to be confirmed.
Tom Holland in 2026
2026 has been the biggest year of Tom’s career. In July he appeared in Christopher Nolan’s The Odyssey, an epic based on the ancient Greek poem, alongside Zendaya and a huge cast. Two weeks later, on July 31, Spider-Man: Brand New Day arrived in cinemas.
The new Spider-Man film had the biggest opening weekend in North American history, earning around 360 million dollars, and went on to pass 2.5 billion dollars worldwide, making it one of the three highest-grossing films ever made. Zendaya returned as MJ, so the couple shared the screen once again.
Frequently asked questions
How old is Tom Holland?
He was born on June 1, 1996, which makes him 30 years old in 2026.
Are Tom Holland and Zendaya married?
Yes. Tom confirmed in June 2026 that they are married, after months of reports that they had wed privately.
When did Tom Holland and Zendaya meet?
They met in 2016 while filming Spider-Man: Homecoming.
Who are Tom Holland’s parents?
His father is the comedian and author Dominic Holland and his mother is the photographer Nicola Frost.
How many brothers does Tom Holland have?
Three: twins Sam and Harry, and Paddy, the youngest.
What was Tom Holland’s first big role?
He played the title role in Billy Elliot the Musical in London from 2008, and his first major film was The Impossible in 2012.
How many Spider-Man films has Tom Holland made?
He has played Spider-Man in seven films, including four solo Spider-Man movies, the latest being Spider-Man: Brand New Day in 2026.
Conclusion
Tom Holland is a dancer turned actor from south-west London who became Spider-Man at 19 and has since starred in some of the biggest films of all time. He comes from a close creative family, runs a charity with his brothers and has built a drinks business of his own. After years of keeping their relationship private, he and Zendaya are now married, and in 2026 they celebrated a record-breaking year on screen together.
See how long Tom and Zendaya have been together with our relationship length calculator, or read more about famous couples.
