Hollywood A-lister Zendaya tells Newshub why she's making her career power move

Actor Zendaya has planted herself firmly on the Hollywood A-lister callsheet in a few short years, and she's back on the big screen with a new film called Challengers.

Set in the world of top-flight tennis, Zendaya is making the calls from behind the camera - and well as in front.

From flying through the air with Spider-Man to flying and crashing as drug addict Rue in Euphoria, Zendaya's Hollywood career has swung from the big screen to small and back again.

After dominating in Dune, she's now centre-stage and centre court in a critically acclaimed new film, Challengers.

The seduction of this story is threefold. Two best friends in love with the same woman, three young actors in love with their craft.

"If you're lucky enough to act with actors like Zendaya and Mike, where it's just flow, you're in a scene and you're really in it, you're in pure admiration of what they're doing. But you're also just in the zone," actor Josh O'Connor said told Newshub.

"It must be a similar thing for tennis players. For Federer to play Nadal, it must be pure joy."

Zendaya became the youngest two-time winner for acting in Emmys history.

And at just 27, having grown up on camera, Zendaya knows the true value of her career, adding producer and executive producer titles to her CV.

"I've known for a long time, since I was a kid, you can express yourself," she told Newshub.

"But unless you have that title, it's not always easy to do the things or take the steps you need to protect yourself or look out for yourself or have your back - or the backs of others. It is important to me."

A real seat at the table - and her rightful place on centre court. Zendaya and Challengers has just opened in cinemas across the land.