Zendaya Opens Up About the Intriguing Focus on Her On-screen Kisses: A Professional Perspective

Zendaya Says All the Attention Surrounding Her Kissing Scenes Is Very Odd

Zendaya Gareth Cattermole/Getty Images

Zendaya revealed on "Jake's Takes" that she doesn't quite grasp why people are so interested in her kissing scenes. During the interview on Sunday, April 21, the 27-year-old actress was questioned about the media's excessive focus on her romantic scenes.

"It's really strange," she said. "I'm not sure why they do it. Maybe they want it to go viral, but I've noticed that it happens a lot with me. I feel like other actors don't get asked the same question. If someone else was here, you probably wouldn't ask them that. It's just part of the job, even though some people might see it as odd."

She continued, "Thanks for mentioning that because I was actually thinking the same thing. This whole situation is just really weird."

Zendaya clarified that despite the suggestive trailer, the R-rated film actually doesn't contain explicit sex scenes. She mentioned that the movie is indeed very sexy, but there are no actual sex scenes depicted. When asked about the supposed sex scenes in the film, Zendaya expressed surprise and questioned, "What sex scenes?"

Zendaya Says All the Attention Surrounding Her Kissing Scenes Is Very Odd

Zendaya recently shared her thoughts on the attention she receives for her kissing scenes in movies. She finds it all very strange and unusual.

In the film Challengers, directed by Luca Guadagnino, Zendaya plays the role of Tashi, a former tennis star who is now a coach. She finds herself in a complicated love triangle with her husband Art, played by Mike Faist, and her ex-boyfriend Patrick, portrayed by Josh O’Connor.

Zendaya expressed in an interview with Elle in August 2023 that she looks for roles that challenge her character. She mentioned, "As I grow older, I realize I can't be a teenager forever."

After predominantly portraying teenage roles throughout her acting career, Zendaya takes on the role of Tashi in Challengers as her first major leading-lady role at the age of 30. Despite never attending high school, she humorously shared in an interview with Vogue on April 9 that she always finds herself in a high school setting.

Zendaya found Tashi "so refreshing" for a specific reason. She also felt a bit scared, hoping people would see her as her own age or slightly older, especially since she has friends with kids or expecting kids.

Zendaya dedicated months to training in tennis to prepare for her role as Tashi, even impressing real-life tennis legend Serena Williams. Serena commended Zendaya for her great performance, especially considering she had never played tennis before.

Guadagnino praised Zendaya in October 2022 after filming ended, calling her "wonderful." He mentioned that they hardly used a stunt double for her scenes because of her exceptional talent.

In an interview with Elle in August 2023, the director continued to commend Zendaya, describing her as a great partner to work with. He appreciated her ability to showcase athleticism and seduction in a beautiful way on screen.

Challengers is set to release in theaters on Friday, April 26.

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