Zendaya Reveals She Suffered Heatstroke Filming Dune: Part Two

Zendaya Opens Up About Suffering Heatstroke on Dune: Part Two Set

In a candid conversation with W Magazine, Zendaya shared her experience of a serious medical scare while filming Dune: Part Two in the blistering deserts of Jordan. The young actress revealed that she experienced heatstroke after cutting back on her water intake, fearing the lengthy trek to the bathroom.

“It was incredibly hot,” she recalled. “I remember thinking, ‘Oh man, the bathrooms are so far away,’ because we had to hike to our filming locations.” She noted that the elaborate costumes added to the challenge, explaining, “If you need to relieve yourself, it takes at least 10 minutes to get out of these suits. I found myself thinking, ‘I really don’t want to drink too much water.’ I was terrified of embarrassing myself on set.”

Unfortunately, her decision to limit hydration backfired. “One day, I didn’t drink enough water, and then I had a heatstroke,” she admitted. “I felt nauseous and ended up calling my mom while sitting on the bathroom floor, telling her, ‘I feel awful.’ She asked me if I had been drinking water, and I had to confess that I hadn’t. I thought I was being clever, but that was a mistake. It was a tough lesson.”

This isn’t the first time Zendaya has faced challenges while filming. She also recalled an injury from her upcoming film, Challengers, where she ended up with a scar on her ankle after a dramatic scene. “It was during a moment where I fell onto the tennis court, and let me tell you, tennis courts are unforgiving,” she said.

Reflecting on her injury, she remarked, “I looked down and wondered, ‘Why is my sock bloody?’ Then it hit me—I scraped my skin off.”

Zendaya’s experiences remind us all to take care of ourselves, especially in demanding conditions. Here’s hoping she stays safe on set moving forward.