Game, set, match: Zendaya on her ‘most unapologetically cruel character’ at UK premiere of film Challengers
Zendaya says her new film Challengers has gifted her the “most unapologetically cruel and direct” character she has ever played.
The Spider-Man actress attended the UK premiere of the Luca Guadagnino movie in London on Wednesday.
Speaking to Sky News, she says it is a joy to have added Tashi Donaldson to her acting portfolio.
“She is so complex, complicated and messy, and I appreciate that about a character,” explains the 27-year-old.
“I don’t think you always love her. I don’t think you always hate her either and that was my challenge, to make sure that she has fragility and sensitivity as well as harshness and directness.”
Zendaya adds: “I don’t necessarily always play the good guy. I like to believe I have characters that are multi-faceted and dimensional in some kind of way, and I think she is the most unapologetically cruel and direct character that I’ve played.
“It was interesting to play someone also who is closer to my own age – while we do get to see her at 18, we do also get to see her grow as a woman and visit and understand different parts of her life.”
The Dune actress stars alongside The Crown’s Josh O’Connor and Tony award-nominee Mike Faist, who play two tennis players besotted with Zendaya’s Tashi.
Guadagnino, who previously directed Timothee Chalamet’s Call Me By Your Name and Bones And All, is at the helm of the project.
“When you first start a job, it’s like the first day of school, so we were all a little bit shy, working out how to be with each other,” says O’Connor, who previously won a Primetime Emmy award for his role in Netflix’s The Crown.
He says his character Patrick’s personality was the toughest task for him to portray.
“Luca [the director] took me to the side, took me by the ear and said: you’re the most confident man in the world. You have got to be so full of bravado, which was terrifying, but it was so good because it shook me out [of my shyness].”
O’Connor says, thanks to Challengers, he was able to raise funds for a mental health charity.
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“Being in the gym and having to get fit was a new thing but I loved it and because of doing this film, I carried on training and did the London Marathon for Mind charity, and it was the best thing I ever did.”
Challengers is in cinemas on 26 April.
Entertainment
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The Duchess of Sussex has delayed the release of her new Netflix series due to the devastation caused by the wildfires in LA, the streaming platform has announced.
Meghan’s eight-part series, With Love, will premiere on 4 March instead of 15 January.
“I’m thankful to my partners at Netflix for supporting me in delaying the launch, as we focus on the needs of those impacted by the wildfires in my home state of California,” Meghan said in a statement to Tudum, the official companion site to Netflix.
Harry and Meghan comforted volunteers and handed out food to evacuees during a visit to Pasadena on Friday, where they met with the city’s mayor Victor Gordo and emergency workers tackling the Eaton Fire.
Prince Harry and Meghan were seen comforting residents on Friday
Footage showed the duchess, wearing a blue “LA” baseball cap, and the prince hugging and consoling people who had fled to the Pasadena Convention Center.
They were also seen speaking Doug Goodwin, whose home was destroyed in the wildfires, and also to Jose Andres, founder of World Central Kitchen (WCK) which has been helping feed the public and emergency crews.
Prince Harry and Meghan spoke to Doug Goodwin (centre right), whose home was destroyed and Pasadena mayor Victor Gordo (right) in Altadena, California. Pic: AP
A description of the Netflix series on Tudum’s website said: “Produced by Meghan, ‘With Love, Meghan’ blends practical how-to’s and candid conversation with friends, new and old.
“Meghan shares personal tips and tricks, embracing playfulness over perfection, and highlights how easy it can be to create beauty, even in the unexpected.
“She and her guests roll up their sleeves in the kitchen, the garden, and beyond, and invite you to do the same.”
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The royals live in Montecito, near Santa Barbara, around 90 miles from Los Angeles.
They are understood to have donated supplies, including clothing and children’s items, to people affected by the disaster.
They released a statement on Thursday urging people to help those affected by the wildfires and to open their homes to those evacuated.
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