On the surface, it appears that Tashi pushes Art to get back into contention and win the U.S. Open even though he’s burned out from the game and wants to retire. With her own career short-circuited by her injury – and tennis being the thing through which she has defined herself – Tashi tries to maintain control over her life by driving Art to succeed in her place. She’s also not above using the long-smoldering sexual chemistry between herself and Patrick to help achieve her goals.
But despite all that, Zendaya doesn’t see Tashi as the movie’s «Big Bad»; she’s instead a steely yet still vulnerable woman who is simply determined to manage her life on her own terms. «It’s easy to judge these characters, and I understand that, because we all do [that],» she argues. «I think the beauty of this film is that your mind will change … I know mine has, every time I watch it, every time I read it.»
The actor adds that her opinion of all three characters also shifted once Mike Faist and Josh O’Connor breathed life into their roles on the set. «Honestly, I had preconceived notions about the characters, and then these guys came in, and with their performances alone, changed my perception of these characters,» Zendaya says. «Every time I watch it — and I made the dang thing — I’m still surprised that every time I go, ‘Oh, well, this time I’m kind of feeling for this character now,’ or ‘This time I’m Team So-and-So.’ You’re constantly living with them and learning something new about them.»
«Challengers» opens in theaters tomorrow (Friday, April 26).