She has taken on her sexiest role to date in the raunchy drama Challengers.
And Zendaya channeled her inner femme fatale as she posed for a standout photoshoot while promoting the film.
The actress, 26, looked sensational ELLE’in the September 2023 issue, stripping down to her lingerie and modeling some flesh colored ensembles.
Zendaya takes center stage in her new film as rising tennis star Tashi Duncan, who attracts the attention of co-stars and best friends, Patrick and Art, played by Josh O’Connor and Mike Faist, sparking a tense love triangle.
The trailer caused fans to break down as the star had a threesome with her love interests, and Zendaya revealed that while it was a “risk” to take the role, she wanted to push herself.
Stunning: Zendaya channeled her inner femme fatale as she posed for a standout photo shoot while promoting her raunchy new movie Challengers
Gorgeous: The 26-year-old actress looked sensational in ELLE’s September 2023 issue, stripping down to her lingerie and modeling a number of flesh-colored ensembles
Zendaya explained, “From a character perspective, I want to find things that will push me. As I get older, I can’t play a teenager for the rest of my life.
“I felt it was a good step into a more, you could say, ‘adult’ role and into the next phase. It was a little scary to assume, which I think is a good feeling.
“To say, ‘Ooh, can I do this?’ You can run from that feeling and stay safe and comfortable, or you can say, “You know what, f**k it.”
While she admitted she didn’t understand Tashi’s motivations, she enjoyed playing a character who was unapologetic.
She explained, “I still don’t understand the decisions she makes, and we had so many conversations about the psychology of her and why she is the way she is.”
“What was important to me was that she didn’t regret it.
“Sometimes characters who are messy and conflicted and wield power over other people are reserved for (actors) who don’t look like me, so if I get the chance to play a character like that, I’ll take it!”
To take on the role of an athlete, Zendaya underwent three months of intense tennis training and revealed that she has a newfound respect for athletes who compete and perform at the same time.
Hi there: Zendaya showed off her incredible figure as she stripped down to her bra
Leggy lady! Another stunning shot saw the star model wearing a PVC bodysuit while surrounded by shirtless male models
Work on it: she looked sensational in a little black dress that showed off her long legs
“The more I had to pretend I was playing tennis in front of a camera with an audience, the more scared I got,” she confessed. “And I didn’t even use a real ball.”
“I just do the form and the footwork, get my swing right and do it in front of a whole bunch of people like it’s the US Open, and I’m terrified.”
The racy role marked a departure from her acting roots as a child star and in the Spider-Man franchise.
For years, she was known for family-friendly roles until she landed a role as a troubled teen drug addict in Euphoria.
The controversial series was an instant hit, catapulting Zendaya to a new level of frame she hadn’t experienced before.
She confessed that she started canceling friends because she didn’t want to go out and “ruin” their evenings with all the attention she attracted.
Looking back at one point, she revealed that fans started taking pictures of her when she had a problem with her card while shopping.
She mused, “I just thought, Why? See, I’m nervous!’
Posing: She donned a PVC dress for another eye-catching photo while modeling a fake braid
Mesmerizing: She smoldered through the lens in a cut-out costume ensemble
Read all about it: Zendaya covers the September issue of ELLE magazine
Wow! The trailer for Zendaya’s steamy new movie Challengers sent fans into a frenzy after she enjoyed a threesome with her handsome male co-stars