Dexter Sol Ansell Finally Meets Zendaya at 2026 Emmys After Viral Clip
And that’s because the A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms actor was able to fulfill his wish of meeting fellow nominee Zendaya at the 78th annual ceremony Sept. 14.
In a photo shared to Ansell’s Instagram Sept. 15, the 11-year-old—donning a bedazzled cream suit for the occasion—posed alongside the Euphoria actress, who crouched down beside him.
But the tween’s Spidey senses could have never predicted that he’d get a two for one special at the event. After all, Zendaya’s husband Tom Holland—who skipped the red carpet before taking his seat next to The Drama star inside Los Angeles’ Peacock Theater—also swooped in on the sweet moment, smiling behind the young actor with his hands by his sides.
Ansell captioned the post alongside pointing and spider emojis, “This.”
ICYMI, A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms received nine nominations at the Mariska Hargitay-hosted event, ultimately taking home one trophy for Outstanding Stunt Performance.
But when nominations were first announced, Ansell’s sweet reaction was shared to social media, where he immediately expressed his excitement to rub shoulders with the Disney Channel alum.
As he said in the clip after screaming in excitement over the accolade, “I’m meeting Zendaya!”
And en route to TV ‘s biggest night, he reiterated his hope to meet the Challengers star.
“So I’m really excited to meet Zendaya because, obviously, I love Spider-Man and she’s one of the main people in that,” Ansell explained in a video shared to HBO and HBO Max’s Instagram accounts while on his way to the award show, “so I’m really excited to meet her.”
Instagram/Dexter Sol Ansell
And he was even more jazzed at the chance to chat with Z because of his special connection to her longtime love.
“And a fun fact, actually, in season 2 of A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms, I actually wore Tom Holland’s harness in one of the scenes,” he added, “which was really cool.”
Though it’s clear the 500 Miles actor came home a winner after the interaction, he also reflected on what it was like to be recognized at the ceremony all before his upcoming 12th birthday.
“It feels amazing,” he exclusively told Keltie Knight during Live From E!: 2026 Emmys Sept. 14. “It’s the best birthday present anyone could ever give me.”
To see every star at the 2026 Emmys, read on…
Monica Schipper/Getty Images
Zendaya
in custom Prada and Mikimoto jewelry.
Randy Shropshire/NBC via Getty Images
Selena Gomez
in Louis Vuitton and Tiffany & Co. jewelry.
Monica Schipper/Getty Images
Ayo Edebiri
in Chanel and Mikimoto jewelry.
Amy Sussman/Getty Images
Mariska Hargitay
in Monse and Stuart Weitzman shoes.
Monica Schipper/Getty Images
Noah Wyle
in custom Brunello Cucinelli and Cartier watch.
Jesse Grant/NBC via Getty Images
Nicole Kidman
in Chanel.
Monica Schipper/Getty Images
Elle Fanning
in Ralph Lauren and Cartier jewelry.
Kevin Mazur/Getty Images
Dakota Fanning
in Carolina Herrera and Swarovski jewelry.
Amy Sussman/Getty Images
Kristen Bell
in Alberta Ferretti.
Photo by Monica Schipper/Getty Images
Shailene Woodley
in Balenciaga.
Jesse Grant/NBC
Julia Garner
in Loewe and Marco Bicego jewelry.
Amy Sussman/Getty Images
Florence Pugh
in Vivienne Westwood.
Jesse Grant/NBC via Getty Images
Colman Domingo
in custom Valentino and OMEGA watch.
Monica Schipper/Getty Images
Kaley Cuoco & Tom Pelphrey
in Christian Siriano (Cuoco) and Giorgio Armani (Pelphrey).
Randy Shropshire/NBC via Getty Images
Julianne Hough
in Antonio Grimaldi.
Jesse Grant/NBC via Getty Images
Sarah Pidgeon
in Chanel.
Photo by LISA O'CONNOR / AFP via Getty Images
Michael Urie
in Christian Siriano and Azza Fahmy jewelry.
Jesse Grant/NBC
Allison Janney
in Pamella Roland.
Randy Shropshire/NBC
Emilia Clarke
in Prada.
Kevin Mazur/Getty Images
John Mulaney & Olivia Munn
in Brunello Cucinelli (Mulaney) and FFORME (Munn).
Randy Shropshire/NBC
Michelle Pfeiffer
in Saint Laurent.
Monica Schipper/Getty Images
Oscar Isaac
in Celine.
Amy Sussman/Getty Images
Jessica Williams
in Honor, Tyler Ellis bag, and Jessica McCormack jewelry.
Monica Schipper/Getty Images
Harrison Ford & Calista Flockhart
in custom Paul Smith (Ford) and Zuhair Murad (Flockhart).
Randy Shropshire/NBC
Sterling K. Brown
in Brunello Cucinelli.
Photo by Monica Schipper/Getty Images
Ryan Michelle Bathe
in Lia Stublia and Martin Katz jewelry.
Monica Schipper/Getty Images
Lisa Kudrow
in Celine.
Amy Sussman/Getty Images
Paul Anthony Kelly
in Louis Vuitton and Vacheron Constantin watch.
LISA O'CONNOR / AFP via Getty Images
Sally Field
in Akris.
Monica Schipper/Getty Images
Chase Infiniti
in Louis Vuitton and Hearts on Fire jewelry.
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