It’s been seven long years since audiences were first introduced to Euphoria’s stacked ensemble of troubled teens.
It goes without saying that a lot has changed in that time – for both audiences, and the beloved A-listers the star-making series all but catapulted to fame.
So in the wake of Euphoria‘s long-awaited return, let’s take a timely look back at its central cast’s respective careers over the years – toggle the ‘sliders’ to see how they’ve changed.
Watch the video above.
Zendaya Coleman
Zendaya is the mononym on everyone’s lips right now – and in part, the star can attribute a great deal of her mainstream success (beyond her Disney Channel roots) to Euphoria.
Though a blink-and-you’ll-miss-it appearance at the season three premiere raised some eyebrows, the star arguably did not need to be there any longer than that rumoured 10-minute window; her time and energy is simply that hot of a commodity right now.
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Her filmography over the past seven years has been decidedly stacked; from Sam Levinson-directed 2021 project Malcolm and Marie, to career-defining roles in the the Spider-Man and Dune franchises.
Most recently, she has generated buzz through her starring role in A24 offering The Drama alongside fan favourite Robert Pattinson.
But despite starring in a hefty number of Hollywood blockbusters, Euphoria has remained her primary drawing card where awards are concerned, with the actress wracking in five major accolades thus far for her haunting portrayal as the troubled, drug-addicted Rue Bennett.
Elsewhere, Zendaya has remained consistently booked and busy, with upcoming roles in Christopher Nolan’s The Odyessy and Spider-Man: Brand New Day alongside beau Tom Holland, as well as a reprisal of her role as Chani in Dune: Part Three.
Alexa Demie
Hers was a truly standout performance as the fiery, fierce – and endlessly quotable – Maddy Perez.
But despite originally being primed for the spotlight alongside her cohort of future Emmy and Oscar nominees, Alexa Demie, 35, did not achieve the same level of success.
Prior to landing her role in the drug-fuelled high school drama, Demie was a sunglasses designer, raised in LA by an immigrant mother.
As the popularity of the series boomed, it became evident Demie’s burgeoning acting career had all but stalled compared to other members of Euphoria’s young ensemble, with the third season of the titular show marking her first on-screen appearance in nearly two years.
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As time went on, Demie was seemingly left in the dust while Zendaya, Jacob Elordi and Sydney Sweeney all catapulted to certified household-name status.
Though the actress enjoyed a fair share of fame as a result of the show, this fame appeared to both start and end there.
In the years that followed Euphoria’s 2019 premiere, the would-be star went on to feature in only a small handful of other projects, including series Fantasmas in 2024, and a role alongside Andrew Garfield in 2020 film Mainstream.
Prior to landing her role in Euphoria, Demie had considered quitting acting, speaking openly about the percieved discrimination she’d faced in persuit of an acting career.
“I wasn’t booking anything ever. It was really hard, especially because I feel like a lot of the lead roles would go to a blonde-haired, blue-eyed girl,” she revealed, per A24 Podcast.
But according to a source, per the Daily Mail, Demie hopes her return to the spotlight for season three of Euphoria will yield more career opportunities in future, and is “bugged” by her comparatively modest success.
“She feels like she should be just as popular and sought after as her co-stars. She wants to be a star, and the fact she isn’t as big as Sydney and Zendaya does bug her,” they claimed.
Jacob Elordi
Despite getting his big break through the clique-crammed, guilty pleasure Netflix offering The Kissing Booth – a fact he’s been loathe to admit in the past – the Aussie heartthrob himself has since been cemented as a Hollywood heavyweight.
A far cry from the sinister, manipulative Nate Jacobs, the endlessly charismatic Jacob Elordi, 28, has truly made a name for himself within the industry – in large part propped up by his multifaceted role in Euphoria.
The show effectively served to transition the teen idol to critically acclaimed status, paving the way for award-winning performances in the likes of Priscilla, Saltburn and, most recently, Guillermo Del Toro’s Frankenstein.
Hunter Schafer
Following her breakout role as Jules Vaughn in Euphoria, Hunter Schafer, 27, has rapidly established herself as a versatile actress, model, and creative within Hollywood.
Though achieving rather less buzz than certain co-stars, her career post-Euphoria success has been characterised by a smattering of critically acclaimed film roles, high-fashion ambassadorships, and forays into writing and directing.
In short: Hunter Schafer can truly do it all.
Most notably, she won hearts for her book-to-screen portrayal of tragic figure Tigris Snow in 2023 hit The Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes, as well as branching out into horror for 2024 flick Cuckoo.
She will next grace the big screen in upcoming projects Mother Mary, alongside Anne Hathaway, and Bladerunner 2099 respectively.
Sydney Sweeney
Hers is a career marred by controversy; however one thing Sydney Sweeney will never be is irrelevant.
The consistent headline-maker, 28, arguably achieved all the fame once predicted for co-star Alexa Demie, with starring roles in a number of popular projects – Anyone But You, Immaculate and The White Lotus, to name a few.
The star, who is rumoured to be dating controversial entertainment industry figure Scooter Braun, sparked a wave of backlash with her infamous American Eagle ‘good genes’ ad – before winning back audience favour through her appearance in hit 2025 thriller film The Housemaid.
It’s been reported the film found so much commercial success a sequel is in the works, with Kirsten Dunst also rumoured to be attached to the project.
With a number of side-projects launched alongside her acting career – including a decidedly sultry lingerie line, Syrn, launched in January – it seems the Hollywood starlet is laughing all the way to the bank.
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