‘Challengers’ stars put new spins (and Slices and Volleys) on the love triangle
GAADAGNINO And yet you have an incredible ability to perceive reality. You know reality in a beautiful way, and you use it a lot in the way you subsequently portray it.
ZENDAJA While that’s true, I think I’m overdoing it. I am overly aware of everything else around me.
GAADAGNINO Because Z is a director. I have told you many times, and I repeat it now in The Times.
ZENDAJA I love being on set because it’s not only creatively stimulating, but it’s also one of the few places where I feel free. Whatever that thing in my brain is where it’s overly critical and self-conscious, that’s the only place where I can be spontaneous and exist for the purpose of creating something with other people and not feel guilty about it. But I’m not at the point where I’m confident enough to direct.
I’m still impressed when I see people like Luca: five people come up to you and ask: “This or that?” or “What’s next?” and he must have an answer. I found myself thinking, “I just want to make everyone happy, what do you need?” Once I feel more confident in my assertiveness or decision-making, I feel like I can take that step.
Dennis Villeneuve said that of all the actors who worked on “Dune: Part Two,” you were the most likely to stay on set and ask the questions a director would ask.
ZENDAJA I’m around the best of them all the time, and I’m like, “Let me sponge and get as much out of this as I can.” For years, I was embarrassed to ask questions. I thought, “I don’t want to waste people’s time.” But you’d be surprised how many people say, “Oh my God, come on in. This is this film stock, this is the reference for this shot.” People love to share what they do, and I’m lucky to be in a place where I can absorb it.
And like I said, sets are places where I feel safe because everyone already knows who I am and I can just walk around and talk to everyone. It creates a community and I’ll see Bianca [Butti, camera operator] and say, “Hey. How was your night? Did you sleep well?” or visit Kim, our AD, and we can chat. You create these little families and these little bubbles, and I can walk around and eat snacks and do whatever, and I feel like I’m just one person creating this thing with everyone else. So hopefully that confidence will kick in one day, but until then I’ll just keep learning.
