Zendaya stopped by Live with Kelly and Mark April 23 to promote her new film Challengers, and the star didn't shy away from crediting her theatre roots as a part of her immense success.

"Theatre is a massive influence on my life in so many different ways," Zendaya shared. "My mom worked at California Shakespeare Theatre, ever since I was two years old, so it became my happy place. I love spending time there, and watching the whole process."

While Zendaya has not tread the Broadway boards, she has become good friends with many familiar theatre faces, including Tony nominee Colman Domingo. "He did Euphoria, and obviously he's an incredible, Oscar nominated actor, he's so incredible and so brilliant, and he actually performed up there once when I was a kid, and technically, that's how we first met."

As one of the most popular fashion icons of her generation, Zendaya has become a best-dressed-list mainstay, including her tennis-themed outfits along every stop of the Challengers press tour. She sees them as a form of character building, stating that "I like to look at fashion as creativity. Even on press tours, it's a way to continue the creativity from the film."

As she gestures down to her lime green archival Thierry Mugler skirt suit, she continues on. "I like to create characters, because ultimately, doing this for a living can feel a little weird and awkward. I'm more of a shy, introverted person, and so I get to create these characters, like 'I'm this woman today who wears a green suit, and I get to embody that character for the day', and the clothes can do that for you."

In the feature film Challengers, Zendaya stars a former tennis prodigy turned coach, married to a champion (Tony nominee Mike Faist) that is set to play his former best friend and her old boyfriend (The Crown's Josh O'Connor). Check out the trailer below.

Challengers is directed by Luca Guadagnino (Call Me By Your Name) and features a screenplay by Justin Kuritzkes. The MGM and Pasal Pictures film is due in theatres April 26.