EW talked to Zendaya about this breakthrough role and anticipating controversy.

ENTERTAINMENT WEEKLY: What drew you toEuphoria?ZENDAYA:It was a few different things really.

I kind of was going through this phase where my Disney show had ended.

Euphoria

Credit: Eddy Chen/HBO

What is this next move?

What am I going to do?

How do I branch out?

I never want to take a job just because I need a job.

I want to do it because Im passionate about it and because I believe in it.

I was looking for this feeling.

For example, like obviouslySpider Man: HomecomingI just knew I wanted to do it.

Shes like, It definitely goes there.

I dont know what your comfort level is, but its a great script.

I got the script and raced through that first episode.

I read it so fast.

I was just glued to it and felt so connected to Rue immediately in some crazy way.

Sam told me that I was on his vision board for Rue, which I thought was crazy.

I was like, I dont believe you.

What in my career have I done to prove that I can do this?

You and Hunter Schafer, who plays Jules, have a really sweet romance on the show.

This is her first acting role.

How has it been working with her?Shes like a little angel.

So Im definitely proud of her for that.

This show is definitely going to be controversial.

Are you all prepared for that?Yeah, of course.

Theres going to be like lots to say about it because its so honest in a lot of ways.

If its not your personal story, its someones story.

Specifically like literally some of them are literally Sam stories.

I think another thing is, this show is not meant to be a political statement.

I think that we dont want it to be that.

But its definitely not supposed to be this political statement about the world, you know what I mean?

I think we tap on things and discuss things that are tough, but again, its storytelling.

It allows the audience to see things how they choose to.

Do you feel like this is a game-changing role for you?Definitely.

Its like doing the same grade over and over and over again.

You gotta go to the next grade.

You gotta graduate.

It definitely doesnt shy away from anything, thats for sure.