Challengers role scared Zendaya so much, she had to do the film

The actress says she was drawn to how multi-layered the characters in the sports romance are

- Alison de Souza

With the new movie Challengers, former child star Zendaya has taken on yet another risque and award-baiting role.

Opening in Singapore cinemas on May 1, it has the 27-year-old American actress playing a tennis champ-turned-coach, who finds herself in a complicated love triangle with her husband and former boyfriend.

The sports romance invites comparisons with Zendaya's star turn in the teen drama Euphoria (2019 to present). The series' controversial depiction of sexuality and drug use scandalised fans from her Disney Channel days, when she appeared in pre-teen sitcoms such as Shake It Up (2010 to 2013) and K.C. Undercover (2015 to 2018).

But Euphoria proved a turning point in her career, winning her two Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama Emmys for her performance as a teen drug addict Rue.

And there is already awards buzz for her first wide-release, bigscreen lead role in Challengers, which is directed by Italian filmmaker Luca Guadagnino, who made the Oscar-winning gay romantic drama Call Me By Your Name (2017).