Zendaya dazzles on Variety cover with her Challengers co

Zendaya dazzled on the latest cover for Variety magazine, alongside her Challengers costars Josh O'Connor and Mike Faist.

The trio star in Challengers, a film that centers around tennis but also their love triangle between their characters.

Zendaya plays Tashi Duncan, Josh plays Patrick Zweig and Mike plays Art. 

Zendaya, 27, looked beautiful in the cover story, wearing a striking dress consisting of multi-colored rosettes, plaid and silky cream material.

Josh, Zendaya and Mike all spent six weeks working in the gym and on the tennis courts to prepare for their roles.

Zendaya dazzled on the latest cover for Variety magazine , alongside her Challengers costars Josh O'Connor and Mike Faist. The trio star in Challengers, a film that centers around tennis but also their love triangle between their characters

Josh, Zendaya and Mike all spent six weeks working in the gym and on the tennis courts to prepare for their roles; Zendaya looking stunning on April 20 at a Beverly Hills photo call in LA

The trio had a daily routine of two hours weightlifting and two hours of tennis, with Josh revealing that Zendaya had 'the best abs' of the group after they measured how strong their abdominals are post training.

Josh said that he doesn't like working out at a gym: 'I find gyms incredibly tedious. I get bored very quickly. I always catch myself in the mirror, and I'm like, "You look so pathetic. You look rubbish holding your weights. And out of your depth."'

Adding: 'So I just never really lasted.'

'There's a piece of equipment that measures how strong your abdominals are. And Zendaya had the best abs of the three of us by a long way,' Josh said.

'I remember me and Mike laughing, but we were also furious and desperately trying to improve our strength,' he said. 

The actors were interviewed last summer, with the pictures taken during that time as well - put on hold due to the actor's strike last fall causing the film's release date to get pushed back. 

'It's a movie and it's tennis, but its not a tennis movie,' Zendaya said. 

'Its much deeper. Tennis is just a metaphor for a lot bigger s**. For power. For codependency. They're using tennis as their device to get these things out of their system. It's the only way they know how to communicate,' she added. 

The film features a steamy love scene with all three characters. 

Challengers was written by Justin Kuritzkes and directed by Luca Guadagnino. 

'It's a movie and it's tennis, but its not a tennis movie,' Zendaya said; the stunner seen in the film Challengers

Zendaya has rocked a number of tennis themed outfits for the global press tour for Challengers

The star plays tennis player Tashi Duncan in Challengers

The film features a steamy love scene with all three characters

Challengers releases in the US on April 26 by Amazon MGM Studios

Zendaya spoke about always been cast as a 16 year old in films in shows.

She got her start on the Disney Channel and played a teen in Euphoria as well as Spider-man.

'I've been playing 16-year-olds since I was 16. So it was nice to play a character that was not a child anymore. It was also interesting playing parts of my life that I haven't experienced yet: I've not gotten married. I've not had a child,' she said.

'Those milestones, I don't necessarily have a direct reference point for. That was different to feel. Ultimately, it felt like the right time for a character like this,' she added. 

Challengers releases in the US on April 26 by Amazon MGM Studios.