Zendaya stole the spotlight as she graced the Australian premiere of “Challengers” at Sydney’s State Theatre alongside her co-stars Josh O’Connor and Mike Faist. This marked her return to Australia, the last being her visit to promote “The Greatest Showman”.
Rocking a custom Loewe glittery green gown by Jonathan Anderson, Zendaya was the epitome of glamour. With its cut-out back and plunging neckline, the dress was a nod to her “Challengers” character, Tashi, a tennis player turned coach. The elegant print of a figure holding up a tennis racket added a playful touch.
The 27-year-old actress is fresh from her red carpet appearances at the Oscars and a whirlwind tour promoting “Dune: Part Two”. And now, she’s taking centre stage at the premiere of Luca Guadagnino’s latest film, “Challengers”. For this project, she not only shines as the star but also wears the hat of a producer. In the film, she steps into the shoes of Tashi Duncan, a former tennis prodigy navigating a complex relationship dynamic with her husband (Faist), and her ex-boyfriend (O’Connor).
“So Lucky to Be Here”
Addressing the theatre, Zendaya said, “I’m so lucky to be back here and with this very special film and these very special people.” Reflecting on her last premiere in Australia for “The Greatest Showman”, she cherished the warm reception she received and thanked the audience for their presence.
“That was such a special time in my life and, and I always cherish being here with everyone in the warm loving environment that and the reception that we get every time we got to be here,” she added. “So, this could not be a better place to start this film. Thank you so much for being here.”
Zendaya reflected on her collaboration with the film’s director, Luca Guadagnino, describing it as “incredibly special.” Notably, Guadagnino had previously worked with Zendaya’s “Dune” co-star, Timothée Chalamet, in the acclaimed film “Call Me by Your Name” back in 2017, as well as “Bones and All” in 2022.
“A Very Talented Filmmaker”
“It’s incredibly special and [I’m] grateful to have an experience with someone who is clearly a very talented filmmaker and being able to watch how he works and creates and also collaborate,” Zendaya said.
“I think all of us kind of brought our own vision, our own ideas which he was always open to and thoughtful about,” she added. “The entire creative process isn’t just about creating a character; it’s an amalgamation of different people’s work.”
“…You put together such a wonderful group of people and it’s very special to be able to collaborate in that real way behind the camera as well.”
“Challengers” hits theatres on April 18, and you can book your tickets here.
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