Zendaya and Tom Holland were married earlier this year, and now an expert is looking back at their red carpet moments over the last several months to answer the question of whether the honeymoon phase has ended for the couple.
Darren Stanton is a body language and behavioral expert with a degree in psychology. He previously worked as a police officer and used his expertise to uncover the truth when interviewing hundreds of suspects. He later moved into media and has been dubbed the “Human Lie Detector.” Stanton frequently offers his expert analysis on high-profile public figures.
Speaking to Betfair Casino, Stanton told Showbiz Cheat Sheet that Zendaya and Holland’s honeymoon period never ended, explaining, “We can see that they’ve got mutual respect, mutual rapport. So often with relationships, especially celebrity relationships, there’s a mismatch in the dynamic, whether that’s about power or the way that either person wants to be perceived. But with these two, it’s very symmetrical. There’s no one person that’s constantly displaying more power than the other.
“What I really like about these two is that everything is very symmetrical. The rapport is equal, the bond is equal, and that reciprocal liking is really consistent between them. They also tend to share and mirror a lot of each other’s gestures. When they’re not on duty, you notice that they become much closer and a lot more tactile with each other.”
Stanton continued, “I especially like the way that he holds her hand as they walk through crowds, because that’s more of a protective handhold. He’s got his arm and hand intertwined with hers. There’s a real sense of him wanting to keep her close and make sure she’s okay.
“When they’re looking at each other, because she is slightly taller than him, and she’s often got her hand on her heart looking down into his eyes. This is a really common red carpet pose from them which is a very heartfelt gesture, and it plays into that sense of genuine emotional connection between them.”
The expert added, “Another thing I really like about them is their authenticity. It doesn’t matter where they are, whether they’re at some other big red carpet event, or just chilling together. They seem to be themselves. They don’t suddenly stop showing affection, talking to each other, or being playful and mischievous just because there are cameras around. They very much operate within their own little bubble, and I think that’s really telling of how close they are.
“A lot of relationships, particularly celebrity relationships, can have that six-month or year-long honeymoon period, and then things start to settle, and the dynamic can go slightly off skew. But with these two, they seem to be consistently obsessed with each other — that honeymoon phase never ended. It’s also not one person that’s more invested than the other. It’s very balanced.”
Stanton concluded, “So you’ve got that balance of power, but also a really balanced level of reciprocal liking and affection. And when you put all those things together — the mirroring, the tactile behavior, the protection, the eye contact and, most importantly, the consistency — I think this relationship has most definitely got longevity.”
Showbiz Cheat Sheet acknowledges that conditions and cultures can impact body language and is sensitive to all backgrounds.
