Zendaya Was Inspired by the ‘Mothers In My Life’ While Portraying ‘Challengers’ Character (Exclusive)

Zendaya attends the UK premiere of Challengers, April 2024. PHOTO: NEIL MOCKFORD/FILMMAGIC

The actress spoke to PEOPLE about her upcoming movie at the London red carpet premiere

Zendaya is tapping into her maternal instincts for her latest movie role!

PEOPLE caught up with the actress, 27, at the premiere of her upcoming film Challengers at Odeon Luxe Leicester Square in London. While on the red carpet, the star opened up about the inspiration behind her on-screen debut as a mom.

“The mothers in my life and around me” is who she credited for helping her to play Tashi Duncan, a former tennis prodigy turned coach.

During the chat, she added that she’s had a bit of practice throughout the years.

Zendaya attends the ‘Challengers’ UK Premiere, April 2024. JEFF SPICER/GETTY.

“I have many, many nieces and nephews, so they’re like my borrowed children, you know? I get to have fun and give them back to their parents,” Zendaya says.

Shifting her tone to express her gratitude, she adds, “But I’m definitely inspired by how they tackle and take on motherhood.”

In the romantic sports comedy, the Dune talent finds herself at the center of an intense love triangle between her husband (Mike Faist) and former boyfriend (Josh O’Connor).

According to the official synopsis, Challengers follows “three players who knew each other when they were teenagers as they compete in a tennis tournament to be the world-famous grand slam winner and reignite old rivalries on and off the court.”

Zendaya as Tashi in Challengers. METRO-GOLDWYN-MAYER PICTURES INC.

And while the multi-talented entertainer has yet to portray a mother until now, the film’s director, Luca Guadagnino, has long been confident in her ability to adapt.

“I mean, wow. We edited the movie and we almost actually don’t use any of her double. She’s so good,” the Call Me By Your Name filmmaker said in an October 2022 interview with Variety.

Guadagnino, 52, added that Zendaya “spent like three months” training with pro tennis coach and former player Brad Gilbert — who also served as a consultant on the film.

As the release date approaches, the Euphoria actress has finished serving on the tennis court, but she continues to serve for the movie’s press tour.

Kicking off in Sydney on March 26, her style has remained a topic of conversation.

“Tennis but make it FASHION,” her friend and longtime stylist Law Roach captioned an Instagram video of Zendaya wearing “custom @loewe and @bulgari” during a press stop in Rome on Monday, April 8.

An official press tour photo of the Golden Globe Award winner showed her posing with the city behind her wearing a preppy holographic silver dress with black trimming, a pleated miniskirt and a plunging V-neckline.

However, the most eye-catching part of her outfit was a pair of white pumps with neon yellow tennis balls punctured through the heels.

Challengers arrives in theaters on April 26.