Zendaya Kept Her Budding Relationship with Tom Holland 'Under Wraps' onK.C. Undercover, Costar Says (Exclusive)

Mar. 15, 2025

Zendaya and Tom Holland in December 2021; Kadeem Hardison, Tammy Townsend, Zendaya, Kamil McFadden and Trinitee Stokes as the Cooper family in ‘K.C. Undercover’ in 2015.Photo:Cindy Ord/Getty; Craig Sjodin/Disney Channel/courtesy Everett Collection

Cindy Ord/Getty; Craig Sjodin/Disney Channel/courtesy Everett Collection

ZendayaandTom Holland’s romance stayed undercover from the start.According to Zendaya’s formerK.C. Undercovercostar Tammy Townsend, the actress and Holland, both 28, kepttheir relationship“under wraps” when they were “first dating” while she starred in the Disney Channel series and 2017’sSpider-Man: Homecoming.“I knew it was serious,” Townsend, 54, tells PEOPLE of the stars’ relationship as she reflects on the show’s 10th anniversary. “Tom would just come through and see what we were doing.”Townsend, who portrayed Zendaya’s mother in the series, says the cast “definitely knew that there was a really strong connection” between the pair, and she has nothing but praise for Holland, whom she calls “a really cool kid.”Kamil McFadden, Tom Holland and Tammy Townsend in 2017.Tammy Townsend/InstagramTrinitee Stokes, Zendaya’s on-screen little sister, also gushes about theUnchartedstar, who spent a few weeks on theK.C. Undercoverset “just hanging around.”“He’s so funny,” Stokes, 18, says of Holland. “I love Tom, and I honestly have been so happy to watch this progression in their relationship because he’s such a great guy.”Watching their relationship from the beginning to theircurrent engagementhas been an “exciting journey,” she adds.Zendaya as MJ and Tom Holland as Spider-Man in 2019’s ‘Spider-Man: Far From Home’.J Whilden/Columbia/Marvel/Kobal/ShutterstockTheSpider-Mancostars first sparked relationship rumors in 2017, andan insider source told PEOPLEat the time that the two “started seeing each other” while filming together. Although Zendaya clarified toVarietyin August 2017 that they were “friends,” Zendaya and Holland were spottedsharing a kiss in a carin July 2021.For his girlfriend’s 25th birthday in September 2021, Holland made their relationship Instagram official with a sweet mirror selfie under which he called her“my MJ.”Before the premiere of their filmSpider-Man: No Way Home, Zendaya reciprocated the gesture with a tribute to Holland, referring to him as“my Spider-Man.”Zendaya at the 2025 Golden Globe Awards.Jeff Kravitz/FilmMagic ; Amy Sussman/GettyNever miss a story — sign up forPEOPLE’s free daily newsletterto stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer​​, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories.At the2025 Golden Globes, theEuphoriaactress was the night’s hot topic after her glitzy ring hadfans speculatingshe and Holland had gotten engaged. The next morning, a family source confirmed the engagement to PEOPLE, and a separate source said“everyone close to them knew”it was happening.“He’s always been crazy about her. He always knew she was the one. They have something very special,” said the second source. “Tom’s always had this sweet way of letting the world know that Zendaya is his. Now, it’s official — she really is!”

ZendayaandTom Holland’s romance stayed undercover from the start.

According to Zendaya’s formerK.C. Undercovercostar Tammy Townsend, the actress and Holland, both 28, kepttheir relationship“under wraps” when they were “first dating” while she starred in the Disney Channel series and 2017’sSpider-Man: Homecoming.

“I knew it was serious,” Townsend, 54, tells PEOPLE of the stars’ relationship as she reflects on the show’s 10th anniversary. “Tom would just come through and see what we were doing.”

Townsend, who portrayed Zendaya’s mother in the series, says the cast “definitely knew that there was a really strong connection” between the pair, and she has nothing but praise for Holland, whom she calls “a really cool kid.”

Kamil McFadden, Tom Holland and Tammy Townsend in 2017.Tammy Townsend/Instagram

Tammy Townsend/Instagram

Trinitee Stokes, Zendaya’s on-screen little sister, also gushes about theUnchartedstar, who spent a few weeks on theK.C. Undercoverset “just hanging around.”

“He’s so funny,” Stokes, 18, says of Holland. “I love Tom, and I honestly have been so happy to watch this progression in their relationship because he’s such a great guy.”

Watching their relationship from the beginning to theircurrent engagementhas been an “exciting journey,” she adds.

Zendaya as MJ and Tom Holland as Spider-Man in 2019’s ‘Spider-Man: Far From Home’.J Whilden/Columbia/Marvel/Kobal/Shutterstock

J Whilden/Columbia/Marvel/Kobal/Shutterstock

TheSpider-Mancostars first sparked relationship rumors in 2017, andan insider source told PEOPLEat the time that the two “started seeing each other” while filming together. Although Zendaya clarified toVarietyin August 2017 that they were “friends,” Zendaya and Holland were spottedsharing a kiss in a carin July 2021.

For his girlfriend’s 25th birthday in September 2021, Holland made their relationship Instagram official with a sweet mirror selfie under which he called her“my MJ.”Before the premiere of their filmSpider-Man: No Way Home, Zendaya reciprocated the gesture with a tribute to Holland, referring to him as“my Spider-Man.”

Zendaya at the 2025 Golden Globe Awards.Jeff Kravitz/FilmMagic ; Amy Sussman/Getty

Jeff Kravitz/FilmMagic ; Amy Sussman/Getty

Never miss a story — sign up forPEOPLE’s free daily newsletterto stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer​​, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories.

At the2025 Golden Globes, theEuphoriaactress was the night’s hot topic after her glitzy ring hadfans speculatingshe and Holland had gotten engaged. The next morning, a family source confirmed the engagement to PEOPLE, and a separate source said“everyone close to them knew”it was happening.

“He’s always been crazy about her. He always knew she was the one. They have something very special,” said the second source. “Tom’s always had this sweet way of letting the world know that Zendaya is his. Now, it’s official — she really is!”

source: people.com