Halle Berry praises Zendaya after Emmys tribute

Hollywood star Halle Berry has heaped praise on Zendaya after the younger actress paid tribute to her iconic style at the 2026 Emmy Awards.

Speaking to PEOPLE at the Create & Cultivate event in Los Angeles on September 20, the 60-year-old actress described Zendaya as her “little sweetheart” and revealed that she would love to work with her on a project in the future.

Halle said she remains in contact with Zendaya and praised her as a talented and inspiring artist. She expressed hope that the two actresses would eventually get an opportunity to collaborate professionally.

The Catwoman star also applauded Zendaya for making an impact on her generation. She said she was proud to see Zendaya honour her at the Emmys and appreciated the gesture.

Zendaya’s tribute came through her red-carpet appearance at the 2026 Emmy Awards. The actress wore a custom silver-sequin Prada gown featuring sheer white fabric and a short train.

The look was inspired by one of Halle Berry’s memorable appearances from 2002. Zendaya’s stylist Law Roach revealed the connection behind the outfit, turning the red-carpet moment into a tribute to Berry’s earlier fashion statement.

Halle responded warmly to the homage. She shared a side-by-side comparison of her 2002 appearance and Zendaya’s Emmy look on social media and tagged Zendaya with a heart.

In another Instagram Story, Berry shared a picture of Zendaya in the outfit and praised her appearance, making it clear that she appreciated the tribute.

Berry’s admiration for Zendaya is not new. Earlier in 2026, she had spoken about her desire to play Zendaya’s mother in a future project.

While appearing on The Drew Barrymore Show in February, Berry said she deeply admired Zendaya and believed she could convincingly take on the role of her mother on screen.

Berry’s latest comments have further highlighted the mutual admiration between the two actresses, while also raising the possibility of a future professional collaboration between the Hollywood stars.