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<\/p>\nShe’s taken on her sexiest role to date in the raunchy drama Challengers.\u00a0<\/p>\n
And Zendaya channelled her inner femme fatale as she posed for a striking photoshoot while promoting the movie.\u00a0<\/p>\n
The actress, 26, looked sensational in ELLE\u2019s September 2023 issue, stripping down to her lingerie and modelling a number of flesh-flashing ensembles.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n
Zendaya takes centre stage in her new movie as a rising tennis star Tashi Duncan, who attracts the attention of fellow players and best friends, Patrick and Art, played by Josh O’Connor and Mike Faist, sparking a tense love triangle.<\/p>\n
The trailer sent fans into meltdown as it depicted the star having a threesome with her love interests, and Zendaya revealed while it was a ‘risk’ to take on the role, she wanted to push herself.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n
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Stunning:\u00a0Zendaya channelled her inner femme fatale as she posed for a striking photoshoot while promoting her raunchy new movie Challengers\u00a0<\/p>\n
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Gorgeous:\u00a0The actress, 26, looked sensational in ELLE\u2019 s September 2023 issue, stripping down to her lingerie and modelling a number of flesh-flashing ensembles<\/p>\n
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Hello there: Zendaya showed off her incredible figure as she stripped down to her bra\u00a0<\/p>\n
Zendaya explained:\u00a0‘From a character perspective, I want to find things that will push me. As I get older, you know, I can’t play a teenager for the rest of my life.<\/p>\n
‘I felt like it was a good step into a more, I guess you could say, “grown-up” role and into that next phase. It was a little bit scary to take on, which I think is a good feeling.\u00a0<\/p>\n
‘To be like, “Ooh, can I do this?” You could run from that feeling and stay safe and comfortable, or you can go, ‘You know what, f**k it.’<\/p>\n
While she admitted she didn’t understand Tashi’s motivations she enjoyed playing a character that was unapologetic.\u00a0<\/p>\n
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 that way.<\/p>\n
‘What was important to me was that she was unapologetic about it.\u00a0<\/p>\n
‘Sometimes characters who are messy and conflicted and wield power over other people are reserved for [actors] who don’t look like me, so when I get an opportunity to play a character like that, I’ma take it!’<\/p>\n
In order to take on the role of the athlete, Zendaya underwent three months of intense tennis training and revealed she has a newfound respect for\u00a0athletes who compete and perform at the same time.\u00a0<\/p>\n
‘The more I had to pretend to do tennis in front of a camera with an audience, the more terrified I felt’, she confessed. ‘And I was not even using a real ball.’<\/p>\n
‘I’m just doing the form and footwork and getting my swing right and doing it in front of a whole bunch of people as if it’s the US Open, and I’m terrified.’<\/p>\n
The racy role marked a departure from her acting roots as a child star and in the Spider Man franchise.\u00a0<\/p>\n
For years she was known for her family friendly work until she landed a role as a troubled teenage drug addict in Euphoria.\u00a0<\/p>\n
The controversial series was an instant hit and catapulted Zendaya to a new level of frame she hadn’t experienced.\u00a0<\/p>\n
She confessed that she started cancelling on friends because she didn’t want to go out and ‘ruin’ their evenings with all the attention she attracted.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Reflecting on one moment she realised she had found new fame, she revealed fans started taking pictures of her when she had a problem with her card while out shopping.\u00a0<\/p>\n
She mused: ‘I was just like, Why? You see I’m flustered!’\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n
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Leggy lady! Another stunning shot saw the star model a PVC bodysuit while surrounded by shirtless male models\u00a0<\/p>\n
![](\"https:\/\/i.dailymail.co.uk\/1s\/2023\/08\/23\/17\/74639145-12437099-Work_it_She_looked_sensational_in_a_little_black_dress_that_show-a-34_1692808961361.jpg\")
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Work it: She looked sensational in a little black dress that showcased her long legs\u00a0<\/p>\n
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Posing: She slipped into a PVC gown for another striking snap while modelling a fake braid<\/p>\n
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Mesmerising: She smouldered down the lens in a cut away suit ensemble\u00a0<\/p>\n
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Read all about it: Zendaya covers the September issue of ELLE magazine\u00a0<\/p>\n
While Zendaya always has time for fans and is open about many aspects of her life she chooses to keep her romance with Tom Holland private.\u00a0<\/p>\n
They have kept their romance low-key since they were first linked in 2017 after starring opposite one another in the Spider-Man franchise.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Explaining the decision, she said: ‘Parts of my life, I accept, are going to be public. I can’t not be a person and live my life and love the person I love.\u00a0<\/p>\n
‘But also, I do have control over what I choose to share. It’s about protecting the peace and letting things be your own but also not being afraid to exist.\u00a0<\/p>\n
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‘You can’t hide. That’s not fun, either. I am navigating it more than ever now.’\u00a0<\/p>\n
Elsewhere in the interview, Zendaya was quick to clear up any rumours of a rift with her former stylist Law Roach.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Zendaya’s ‘image architect’ revealed he was retiring in March,\u00a0blaming ‘the politics, the lies and false narratives’ for his decision.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Days later video\u00a0emerged of Zendaya ‘rudely’ relegating Law to a second row seat at a fashion show, with fans claiming that was the reason behind his retirement.\u00a0<\/p>\n
The actress was caught on camera taking her place on the front row next to Emma Stone at Louis Vuitton’s Paris Fashion Week show before ushering her longtime stylist to an empty chair behind.<\/p>\n
The clip prompted fierce debate on social media as dozens of commenters slammed Zendaya for not ‘showing him respect’.<\/p>\n
Addressing the backlash, Zendaya said:\u00a0‘When it happened, I said, “Oh no, I hope people don’t try to create something from this.”<\/p>\n
‘We’re so used to sitting together that he didn’t know where to go. But obviously, people want to assume the worst of the situation, which is not always easy to deal with and hurtful.’\u00a0<\/p>\n
Law, who has taken on a new role as Zendaya’s ‘creative director’, also spoke highly of the actress, telling ELLE: ‘Our relationship is like family, so I don’t think I’m going anywhere\u2014and even if I wanted to, she wouldn’t let me.<\/p>\n
‘I’m grateful that people like the work and understand the story. And I’m grateful for her giving me the opportunity to shine.<\/p>\n
‘It’s not often that such a big superstar like that is very generous and understanding when someone wants to basically step out. She’s been one of my biggest supporters.’<\/p>\n
Yet Zendaya did confess she was ‘mad’ at Law for one fashion mishap.<\/p>\n
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Wow!\u00a0The trailer for Zendaya’s steamy new film Challengers sent fans into a frenzy after it featured her enjoying a threesome with her hunky male co-stars\u00a0<\/p>\n
![](\"https:\/\/i.dailymail.co.uk\/1s\/2023\/08\/23\/17\/74641185-12437099-Under_wraps_While_Zendaya_always_has_time_for_fans_and_is_open_a-a-40_1692808961658.jpg\")
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Under wraps:\u00a0While Zendaya always has time for fans and is open about many aspects of her life she chooses to keep her romance with Tom Holland private (pictured in 2021)\u00a0<\/p>\n
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Still close:\u00a0Elsewhere in the interview, Zendaya was quick to clear up any rumours of a rift with her former stylist Law Roach (pictured in 2022)\u00a0<\/p>\n
![](\"https:\/\/i.dailymail.co.uk\/1s\/2023\/08\/23\/17\/74642445-12437099-Oops_Recalling_her_worst_fashion_look_she_referred_to_an_ensembl-a-37_1692808961639.jpg\")
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Oops:\u00a0Recalling her worst fashion look, she referred to an ensemble she wore in 2012 during the first press tour for her Disney Channel show Shake It Up (pictured with Bella Thorne)\u00a0<\/p>\n
Recalling her worst fashion look, she referred to an ensemble she wore in 2012 during the first press tour for her Disney Channel show Shake It Up.\u00a0<\/p>\n
While in Munich, Germany she sported flared trousers, a striped cardigan, aqua blazer and yellow T-shirt.\u00a0<\/p>\n
While the look came before she had a clothing budget she was working with Law at the time and joked:\u00a0\u00a0‘I’m angry at him to this day.\u00a0<\/p>\n
‘Like, why would you put me in this? B***h, you could’ve done better!’\u00a0<\/p>\n