Vanessa Hudgens, childhood photo with her little sister
Gallery of Vanessa Hudgens
Young Vanessa Hudgens
Gallery of Vanessa Hudgens
Vanessa Hudgens, childhood photo
Gallery of Vanessa Hudgens
Vanessa Hudgens, childhood photo
Gallery of Vanessa Hudgens
Vanessa Hudgens, childhood photo with her father
Gallery of Vanessa Hudgens
Vanessa Hudgens, childhood photo
Gallery of Vanessa Hudgens
Vanessa Hudgens, childhood photo
Gallery of Vanessa Hudgens
Vanessa Hudgens, childhood photo
College/University
Career
Gallery of Vanessa Hudgens
2004
New York City, New York, USA
Vanessa Anne Hudgens arrives at the "Thunderbirds" screening during the 2004 Tribeca Film Festival on May 8, 2004, in New York City. (Photo by Peter Kramer)
Gallery of Vanessa Hudgens
2010
961 Broxton Ave, Los Angeles, CA 90024, United States
Vanessa Hudgens (L) and Zac Efron arrive at the premiere of Universal Pictures' "Charlie St. Cloud" at the Village Theater on July 20, 2010, in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Kevin Winter)
Gallery of Vanessa Hudgens
2014
3790 Wilshire Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90010, United States
Vanessa Hudgens (L) and Ashley Tisdale at the 2014 Young Hollywood Awards brought to you by Samsung Galaxy at The Wiltern on July 27, 2014, in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Mike Windle)
Gallery of Vanessa Hudgens
2015
777 Chick Hearn Ct, Los Angeles, CA 90015, United States
Vanessa Hudgens arrives at the 2015 MTV Video Music Awards at Microsoft Theater on August 30, 2015, in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Jon Kopaloff)
Gallery of Vanessa Hudgens
2016
La Quinta, California, USA
Vanessa Hudgens attends Forever 21 Celebrates #F21xMUSIC on April 16, 2016, in La Quinta, California. (Photo by Stefanie Keenan)
Gallery of Vanessa Hudgens
2016
Los Angeles, California, USA
Vanessa Hudgens (L) hosts Just Dance 2017 Friendsgiving on November 15, 2016, in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Rachel Murray)
Gallery of Vanessa Hudgens
2017
9876 Wilshire Blvd, Beverly Hills, CA 90210, United States
Vanessa Hudgens (L) and Sarah Hyland attend The 2017 InStyle and Warner Bros. 73rd Annual Golden Globe Awards Post-Party at The Beverly Hilton Hotel on January 8, 2017, in Beverly Hills, California. (Photo by Matt Winkelmeyer)
Gallery of Vanessa Hudgens
2017
1111 S Figueroa St, Los Angeles, CA 90015, United States
Vanessa Hudgens (L) and Ashley Tisdale attend a basketball game between the Detroit Pistons and the Los Angeles Lakers at Staples Center on January 15, 2017, in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Noel Vasquez)
Gallery of Vanessa Hudgens
2017
647 N San Vicente Blvd, West Hollywood, CA 90069, United States
Vanessa Hudgens attends the 25th Annual Elton John AIDS Foundation's Academy Awards Viewing Party at The City of West Hollywood Park on February 26, 2017, in West Hollywood, California. (Photo by Dimitrios Kambouris)
Gallery of Vanessa Hudgens
2017
855 N Cahuenga Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90038, United States
Sarah Hyland and Vanessa Hudgens attend Moschino Spring/Summer 18 Menswear and Women's Resort Collection at Milk Studios on June 8, 2017, in Hollywood, California. (Photo by Donato Sardella)
Gallery of Vanessa Hudgens
2017
West Hollywood, California, USA
Vanessa Hudgens attends the FOX 2017 Summer TCA Tour after-party on August 8, 2017, in West Hollywood, California. (Photo by Alberto E. Rodriguez)
Gallery of Vanessa Hudgens
2017
3780 S Las Vegas Blvd, Las Vegas, NV 89158, United States
Vanessa Hudgens (L) and Austin Butler arrive on T-Mobile's magenta carpet during the Showtime, WME IME and Mayweather Promotions VIP Pre-Fight Party for Mayweather vs. McGregor at T-Mobile Arena on August 26, 2017, in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Gabe Ginsberg)
Gallery of Vanessa Hudgens
2017
New York City, New York, USA
Austin Butler and Vanessa Hudgens attend Jeremy Scott collection during the September 2017 New York Fashion Week: The Shows on September 8, 2017, in New York City. (Photo by John Lamparski)
Gallery of Vanessa Hudgens
2017
Jersey City, New Jersey, USA
Vanessa Hudgens attends gameday kickoff at the Booking.com Football House on September 10, 2017, in Jersey City, New Jersey. (Photo by Noam Galai)
Gallery of Vanessa Hudgens
2018
3021 Airport Ave, Santa Monica, CA 90405, United States
Vanessa Hudgens attends The Art Of Elysium's 11th Annual Celebration - Heaven at Barker Hangar on January 6, 2018, in Santa Monica, California. (Photo by Jon Kopaloff)
Gallery of Vanessa Hudgens
2018
9876 Wilshire Blvd, Beverly Hills, CA 90210, United States
Vanessa Hudgens attends the 19th Annual Post-Golden Globes Party hosted by Warner Bros. Pictures and InStyle at The Beverly Hilton Hotel on January 7, 2018, in Beverly Hills, California. (Photo by Frazer Harrison)
Gallery of Vanessa Hudgens
2018
Los Angeles, California, USA
Vanessa Hudgens is seen on January 17, 2018, in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by SMXRF)
Gallery of Vanessa Hudgens
2018
6417 Selma Ave, Hollywood, CA 90028, United States
Vanessa Hudgens x SinfulColors Festival Collection at The Highlight Room at the Dream Hollywood on April 11, 2018, in Hollywood, California. (Photo by Vivien Killilea)
Gallery of Vanessa Hudgens
2018
New York City, New York, USA
Vanessa Hudgens attends "The Iceman Cometh" opening night on Broadway on April 26, 2018, in New York City. (Photo by Noam Galai)
Gallery of Vanessa Hudgens
2018
Malibu, California, USA
Vanessa Hudgens attends 2018 Best Buddies Mother's Day Brunch Hosted by Vanessa & Gina Hudgens on May 12, 2018, in Malibu, California. (Photo by Stefanie Keenan)
Gallery of Vanessa Hudgens
2018
Brooklyn, New York, USA
Vanessa Hudgens attends the 2018 Full Moon Festival at The Knockdown on June 30, 2018, in Brooklyn, New York. (Photo by Steven Ferdman)
Gallery of Vanessa Hudgens
2018
10250 Santa Monica Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90067, United States
Vanessa Hudgens attends the premiere of LD Entertainment's "Dog Days" at Westfield Century City on August 5, 2018, in Century City, California. (Photo by Frazer Harrison)
Gallery of Vanessa Hudgens
2018
777 Chick Hearn Ct, Los Angeles, CA 90015, United States
Vanessa Hudgens attends the 2018 American Music Awards at Microsoft Theater on October 9, 2018, in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Axelle)
Gallery of Vanessa Hudgens
2018
300 Doheny Dr, Los Angeles, CA 90048, United States
Vanessa Hudgens attends ELLE's 25th Annual Women In Hollywood Celebration presented by L'Oreal Paris, Hearts On Fire and CALVIN KLEIN at Four Seasons Hotel Los Angeles at Beverly Hills on October 15, 2018, in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Neilson Barnard)
Gallery of Vanessa Hudgens
2018
5808 Sunset Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90028, United States
Vanessa Hudgens attends the "The Princess Switch" Special Screening at NETFLIX Icon Building on November 12, 2018, in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Charley Gallay)
Gallery of Vanessa Hudgens
2018
300 Doheny Dr, Los Angeles, CA 90048, United States
Vanessa Hudgens attends the photocall for STX Films' 'Second Act' at Four Seasons Hotel Los Angeles at Beverly Hills on December 09, 2018, in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Axelle)
Gallery of Vanessa Hudgens
2018
850 Broadway, New York, NY 10003, United States
Vanessa Hudgens attends the world premiere of "Second Act" at Regal Union Square Theatre, Stadium 14 on December 12, 2018, in New York City. (Photo by Nicholas Hunt)
Gallery of Vanessa Hudgens
2019
9390 N Santa Monica Blvd, Beverly Hills, CA 90210, United States
Vanessa Hudgens attends the 2019 Vanity Fair Oscar Party hosted by Radhika Jones at Wallis Annenberg Center for the Performing Arts on February 24, 2019, in Beverly Hills, California. (Photo by Dia Dipasupil)
Gallery of Vanessa Hudgens
2019
11 W 53rd St, New York, NY 10019, United States
Vanessa Hudgens and Austin Butler attend "The Dead Don't Die" New York Premiere at Museum of Modern Art on June 10, 2019, in New York City. (Photo by Theo Wargo)
Gallery of Vanessa Hudgens
2019
620 Atlantic Ave, Brooklyn, NY 11217, United States
Vanessa Hudgens attends Savage X Fenty Show Presented By Amazon Prime Video - Arrivals at Barclays Center on September 10, 2019, in Brooklyn, New York. (Photo by Dimitrios Kambouris)
Gallery of Vanessa Hudgens
2019
Disneyland Dr, Anaheim, CA 92802, United States
Vanessa Hudgens celebrates the opening of Black Tap Craft Burgers & Shakes at Downtown Disney District at Disneyland Resort on May 19, 2019, in Anaheim, California. (Photo by Jesse Grant)
Gallery of Vanessa Hudgens
2019
1260 6th Ave, New York, NY 10020, United States
Vanessa Hudgens attends the 73rd Annual Tony Awards at Radio City Music Hall on June 09, 2019, in New York City. (Photo by Dimitrios Kambouris)
Gallery of Vanessa Hudgens
2019
720 N Cahuenga Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90038, United States
Vanessa Hudgens attends the Weedmaps Museum Of Weed exclusive preview event on August 01, 2019, in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by John Sciulli)
Achievements
Membership
Awards
ShoWest Award
2010
3655 S Las Vegas Blvd, Las Vegas, NV 89109, United States
Vanessa Hudgens accepts the Female Star of Tomorrow Award during the ShoWest awards ceremony at the Paris Las Vegas during ShoWest, the official convention of the National Association of Theatre Owners, March 18, 2010, in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Ethan Miller)
Young Hollywood Award
2014
3790 Wilshire Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90010, United States
Vanessa Hudgens attends the 2014 Young Hollywood Awards brought to you by Samsung Galaxy at The Wiltern on July 27, 2014, in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Ari Perilstein)
Teen Choice Award
2017
3400 S Figueroa St, Los Angeles, CA 90089, United States
Vanessa Hudgens accepts the #SeeHer Award onstage during the Teen Choice Awards 2017 at Galen Center on August 13, 2017, in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Kevin Winter
Vanessa Anne Hudgens arrives at the "Thunderbirds" screening during the 2004 Tribeca Film Festival on May 8, 2004, in New York City. (Photo by Peter Kramer)
3655 S Las Vegas Blvd, Las Vegas, NV 89109, United States
Vanessa Hudgens accepts the Female Star of Tomorrow Award during the ShoWest awards ceremony at the Paris Las Vegas during ShoWest, the official convention of the National Association of Theatre Owners, March 18, 2010, in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Ethan Miller)
961 Broxton Ave, Los Angeles, CA 90024, United States
Vanessa Hudgens (L) and Zac Efron arrive at the premiere of Universal Pictures' "Charlie St. Cloud" at the Village Theater on July 20, 2010, in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Kevin Winter)
3790 Wilshire Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90010, United States
Vanessa Hudgens attends the 2014 Young Hollywood Awards brought to you by Samsung Galaxy at The Wiltern on July 27, 2014, in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Ari Perilstein)
3790 Wilshire Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90010, United States
Vanessa Hudgens (L) and Ashley Tisdale at the 2014 Young Hollywood Awards brought to you by Samsung Galaxy at The Wiltern on July 27, 2014, in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Mike Windle)
777 Chick Hearn Ct, Los Angeles, CA 90015, United States
Vanessa Hudgens arrives at the 2015 MTV Video Music Awards at Microsoft Theater on August 30, 2015, in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Jon Kopaloff)
3400 S Figueroa St, Los Angeles, CA 90089, United States
Vanessa Hudgens accepts the #SeeHer Award onstage during the Teen Choice Awards 2017 at Galen Center on August 13, 2017, in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Kevin Winter
9876 Wilshire Blvd, Beverly Hills, CA 90210, United States
Vanessa Hudgens (L) and Sarah Hyland attend The 2017 InStyle and Warner Bros. 73rd Annual Golden Globe Awards Post-Party at The Beverly Hilton Hotel on January 8, 2017, in Beverly Hills, California. (Photo by Matt Winkelmeyer)
1111 S Figueroa St, Los Angeles, CA 90015, United States
Vanessa Hudgens (L) and Ashley Tisdale attend a basketball game between the Detroit Pistons and the Los Angeles Lakers at Staples Center on January 15, 2017, in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Noel Vasquez)
647 N San Vicente Blvd, West Hollywood, CA 90069, United States
Vanessa Hudgens attends the 25th Annual Elton John AIDS Foundation's Academy Awards Viewing Party at The City of West Hollywood Park on February 26, 2017, in West Hollywood, California. (Photo by Dimitrios Kambouris)
855 N Cahuenga Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90038, United States
Sarah Hyland and Vanessa Hudgens attend Moschino Spring/Summer 18 Menswear and Women's Resort Collection at Milk Studios on June 8, 2017, in Hollywood, California. (Photo by Donato Sardella)
3780 S Las Vegas Blvd, Las Vegas, NV 89158, United States
Vanessa Hudgens (L) and Austin Butler arrive on T-Mobile's magenta carpet during the Showtime, WME IME and Mayweather Promotions VIP Pre-Fight Party for Mayweather vs. McGregor at T-Mobile Arena on August 26, 2017, in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Gabe Ginsberg)
Austin Butler and Vanessa Hudgens attend Jeremy Scott collection during the September 2017 New York Fashion Week: The Shows on September 8, 2017, in New York City. (Photo by John Lamparski)
3021 Airport Ave, Santa Monica, CA 90405, United States
Vanessa Hudgens attends The Art Of Elysium's 11th Annual Celebration - Heaven at Barker Hangar on January 6, 2018, in Santa Monica, California. (Photo by Jon Kopaloff)
9876 Wilshire Blvd, Beverly Hills, CA 90210, United States
Vanessa Hudgens attends the 19th Annual Post-Golden Globes Party hosted by Warner Bros. Pictures and InStyle at The Beverly Hilton Hotel on January 7, 2018, in Beverly Hills, California. (Photo by Frazer Harrison)
6417 Selma Ave, Hollywood, CA 90028, United States
Vanessa Hudgens x SinfulColors Festival Collection at The Highlight Room at the Dream Hollywood on April 11, 2018, in Hollywood, California. (Photo by Vivien Killilea)
Vanessa Hudgens attends 2018 Best Buddies Mother's Day Brunch Hosted by Vanessa & Gina Hudgens on May 12, 2018, in Malibu, California. (Photo by Stefanie Keenan)
10250 Santa Monica Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90067, United States
Vanessa Hudgens attends the premiere of LD Entertainment's "Dog Days" at Westfield Century City on August 5, 2018, in Century City, California. (Photo by Frazer Harrison)
300 Doheny Dr, Los Angeles, CA 90048, United States
Vanessa Hudgens attends ELLE's 25th Annual Women In Hollywood Celebration presented by L'Oreal Paris, Hearts On Fire and CALVIN KLEIN at Four Seasons Hotel Los Angeles at Beverly Hills on October 15, 2018, in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Neilson Barnard)
5808 Sunset Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90028, United States
Vanessa Hudgens attends the "The Princess Switch" Special Screening at NETFLIX Icon Building on November 12, 2018, in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Charley Gallay)
300 Doheny Dr, Los Angeles, CA 90048, United States
Vanessa Hudgens attends the photocall for STX Films' 'Second Act' at Four Seasons Hotel Los Angeles at Beverly Hills on December 09, 2018, in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Axelle)
Vanessa Hudgens attends the world premiere of "Second Act" at Regal Union Square Theatre, Stadium 14 on December 12, 2018, in New York City. (Photo by Nicholas Hunt)
9390 N Santa Monica Blvd, Beverly Hills, CA 90210, United States
Vanessa Hudgens attends the 2019 Vanity Fair Oscar Party hosted by Radhika Jones at Wallis Annenberg Center for the Performing Arts on February 24, 2019, in Beverly Hills, California. (Photo by Dia Dipasupil)
Vanessa Hudgens and Austin Butler attend "The Dead Don't Die" New York Premiere at Museum of Modern Art on June 10, 2019, in New York City. (Photo by Theo Wargo)
620 Atlantic Ave, Brooklyn, NY 11217, United States
Vanessa Hudgens attends Savage X Fenty Show Presented By Amazon Prime Video - Arrivals at Barclays Center on September 10, 2019, in Brooklyn, New York. (Photo by Dimitrios Kambouris)
Vanessa Hudgens celebrates the opening of Black Tap Craft Burgers & Shakes at Downtown Disney District at Disneyland Resort on May 19, 2019, in Anaheim, California. (Photo by Jesse Grant)
(The inventive action-packed sci-fi saga of the Tracy fami...)
The inventive action-packed sci-fi saga of the Tracy family, their intergalactic rescue agency, and the battle against an evil villain who kidnaps them!
(Vanessa Hudgens, Aly Michalka, Gaelan Connell and Lisa Ku...)
Vanessa Hudgens, Aly Michalka, Gaelan Connell and Lisa Kudrow star in a comedy about following dreams and doing what scares you. Ultra-popular Charlotte (Michalka) is determined to face-off against her ex at the country's biggest music competition. She just needs a band.
(Spoiled, shallow high school student Kyle (Alex Pettyfer)...)
Spoiled, shallow high school student Kyle (Alex Pettyfer) is cursed by classmate Kendra (Mary-Kate Olsen), a witch masquerading as a student. She transforms him into someone as unattractive on the outside as he is on the inside. Now he has one year to convince an unassuming classmate, Lindy (Vanessa Hudgens), to see past his surface and love him, or he'll remain 'beastly' forever.
(Sucker Punch is an epic action fantasy that takes us into...)
Sucker Punch is an epic action fantasy that takes us into the vivid imagination of a young girl whose dream world provides the ultimate escape from her darker reality.
(Seventeen-year-old Sean Anderson (Josh Hutcherson) and hi...)
Seventeen-year-old Sean Anderson (Josh Hutcherson) and his new stepfather, Hank (Dwayne Johnson) set off on an adventure to find a mysterious island where no island should exist.
(Four college girls hold up a restaurant in order to fund ...)
Four college girls hold up a restaurant in order to fund their spring break vacation. While partying, drinking, and taking drugs, they are arrested, only to be bailed out by a drug and arms dealer.
(Based on a true story. An Alaskan State Trooper (Nicholas...)
Based on a true story. An Alaskan State Trooper (Nicholas Cage) must partner with a near victim and the only witness to escape the clutches of the serial killer in order to bring the murderer to justice.
(Machete (Danny Trejo) returns to stop a crazed global ter...)
Machete (Danny Trejo) returns to stop a crazed global terrorist (Mel Gibson) from starting a nuclear war in this star-studded, action-packed thrill ride from director Robert Rodriguez.
(Based on a true story. Vanessa Hudgens gives the best per...)
Based on a true story. Vanessa Hudgens gives the best performance of her career in this uplifting film about one girl's struggle to find love, acceptance, and redemption. Co-starring: James Earl Jones, Brendan Fraser, and Rosario Dawson.
(Vampires, humans, and zombies used to get along in Dillfo...)
Vampires, humans, and zombies used to get along in Dillford, but now it's all-out mortal combat. It's up to three teenagers to try to get things back to "normal."
(Jennifer Lopez stars as Maya, a 40-year-old woman struggl...)
Jennifer Lopez stars as Maya, a 40-year-old woman struggling with frustrations from unfulfilled dreams. Until that is, she gets the chance to prove to Madison Avenue that street smarts are as valuable as book smarts and that it is never too late for a Second Act.
(In a world where humanity must cope with the collateral d...)
In a world where humanity must cope with the collateral damage of Super Heroes and villains doing battle every day, Emily Locke (Vanessa Hudgens) begins her first day as Director of Research & Development for Wayne Security, which specializes in products that make defenseless bystanders feel safer. Full of confidence and big ideas, Emily quickly learns that you don't need superpowers to be a hero.
Vanessa Hudgens is an American actress and singer who first rose to fame as a teenager with her starring role in the High School Musical films. In her career so far, she has starred in many movies alongside some of the major stars of the industry. For a brief period, she took a break from professional singing to focus on her acting career. Later on, she announced that she would be recording new songs and albums.
Background
Ethnicity:
Vanessa Hudgens's father was of Irish and Native American descent, and her mother, a native of Manila, Philippines, is of Filipino descent.
Vanessa Hudgens was born on December 14, 1988, in Salinas, California, the United States, to secretary Gina Guangco and firefighter Greg Hudgens. Her family moved to San Diego, California, while she was still a toddler. She and her younger sister, Stella, who is also an actress, grew up there.
Vanessa was interested in acting and singing at a young age, inspired by her grandparents, who were musicians. At the age of 8, she started appearing in musical theater. After years of auditioning, she began seeing some success. This prompted her family to move to Los Angeles, California.
Education
Vanessa very briefly attended Orange County High School of the Arts. After moving to Los Angeles, she started homeschooling, so she missed out on the high school experience.
Vanessa started singing in local plays when she was eight. After a couple of years of experience, she gave auditions for several TV commercials. The family moved to Los Angeles when she got selected for one of the TV commercials. Her first professional job was playing a munchkin in a local stage production of The Wizard of Oz, for which she was paid $50.
More stage roles followed in musicals such as Carousel, The King and I and Damn Yankees. Vanessa made her feature film debut in Thirteen (2003), co-starring Holly Hunter and Evan Rachel Wood. She'd also appeared in the feature film Thunderbirds (2004) as Tintin and made guest appearances on The Brothers Garcia, Robbery Homicide Division, Quintuplets and Still Standing.
In 2006, she played a recurring character on The Suite Life of Zack and Cody before landing her breakthrough role as Gabriella Montez in High School Musical. Directed by Kenny Ortega, in 2006, the Disney Channel’s High School Musical became a global phenomenon that only expanded with the sequels, 2007’s High School Musical 2 and 2008’s High School Musical 3: Senior Year. Hudgens starred as the brainy and bookish Gabriella Montez with Zac Efron starring as Troy Bolton, the star athlete at a small-town high school, who falls for her at a holiday karaoke party. When her character serendipitously transfers to his high school, Troy and Gabriella reunite and audition for the upcoming school musical. Ashley Tisdale plays their nemesis, Sharpay Evans, who schemes to squelch their chances. The squeaky-clean films launched the careers of its cast of unknowns and also paved the way for Hudgens’ recording career.
Hudgens and co-star Efron scored a massive hit when their duet “Breaking Free” from High School Musical soared to No. 4 on the Billboard Hot 100 in 2006. Later that year, Hudgens released her debut album V, which was certified gold on the strength of the single, “Come Back to Me,” which samples from the song "Baby Come Back," by the 1970s rock band Player. Her second album, Identified (2008), debuted at No. 23 on the Billboard 200. It ultimately underperformed in comparison to V, leading Hudgens to part ways with her recording label, Hollywood Records, and focus on acting.
When the made-for-TV movie debuted on January 20, 2006, it quickly became the most successful Disney Channel original movie ever produced. The film's soundtrack was the best-selling album in the U.S. in 2006 and Vanessa and her co-stars (with the exception of Efron, who was in Toronto filming Hairspray at the time) went on a sold-out North America concert tour. During the concert, Vanessa not only sang songs from High School Musical but from her own album.
The sequel, though not as good a movie as the first one, was even more successful, bringing in a total of 17.3 million viewers in the U.S. (almost 10 million more than the first one) during its premiere on the Disney Channel. Again, a soundtrack was released as well as numerous merchandise such as clothing, dolls, lunch boxes, jewelry, etc. The cast again signed up for a third movie, this time for the big screen, entitled High School Musical 3: Senior Year (2008).
On paper, Hudgens’ role in 2009’s Slamband doesn’t sound like a big leap from High School Musical: She's the new kid who arrives in town and decides to put together a rock band and competes with other bands. But Hudgens told the New York Times that she was attracted by the screenplay’s description of her character as “deadpan,” “introverted” and “a bit off.” Her next film Sucker Punch (2011), was much more of a departure, as she played a young woman in a mental institution who fantasizes it’s a brothel.
In 2012, she went from the big-budget Journey 2: The Mysterious Island (2012), which put her opposite Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson and Josh Hutcherson, to the vice-ridden Spring Breakers (2012), in which her character, Candy, participates in a wet-and-wild threesome with co-stars James Franco and Ashley Benson in a backyard pool. In 2013, she starred as a pregnant homeless teenager in Gimme Shelter and as a stripper in The Frozen Ground (opposite Nicolas Cage and John Cusack). She also had a small part as Sofia Vergara’s daughter in the star-studded Machete Kills.
After starring the short-lived comedy series, Powerless, based on the DC Comics universe, Hudgens went back to work on two films in 2018. In Dog Days, she plays a disillusioned barista who, along with an ensemble cast, leans on their furry companions to help them get through life. She also had a supporting part in the romantic comedy Second Act, starring Jennifer Lopez and Milo Ventimiglia, and opened 2019 with a co-starring role in the film adaptation of the comic series Polar.
Hudgens began working in musical theater productions when she was still a child, performing in various roles in shows such as The Wizard of Oz, The King & I, Carousel, The Music Man and Cinderella. In 2015, she made her Broadway debut in the titular role of the beloved Academy Award- and Tony Award-winning film and stage musical Gigi. Unfortunately, the show’s adaptation failed to resonate with critics and audiences and closed after 20 previews and 86 performances.
Hudgens bounced back in 2016 with her starring role as Betty Rizzo in Grease: Live!, which was nominated for 10 Emmy Awards and won five. In January 2019, she earned strong reviews for her performance in Rent: Live.
(In a world where humanity must cope with the collateral d...)
2017
Religion
Hudgens was raised Catholic, but since has grown away from that branch of Christianity and now identifies as a non-denominational Christian. She attends the Los Angeles affiliate church of Hillsong Church.
Views
For a long time, Vanessa was not an advocate of feminism because she did not think that it was affecting women in the right way, as evidenced by her statement during a New York Times interview in which she said, "It gets to a certain place where it almost has the reverse effect, where it's so overpowering and so aggressive that it's like rather than just standing up for female pride and female rights, it becomes, like, 'I am the man.'" That all changed with Beyonce though, who she says helped usher in a new wave of feminism that only focuses on equal rights for women. Now Hudgens considers herself a feminist and often speaks about women's power.
In 2017, Hudgens teamed up with EcoTools and their national campaign #MyTrueBeauty, which aimed at telling young girls to celebrate their individual beauty. In an interview with Teen Vogue, she said, "It’s all about taking the intimidation out of makeup application. And it’s also about empowering women to embrace their own true beauty, which I think is so important. I also love the partnership they’re doing with The Girl Project - the proceeds are going to women’s education around the globe. I love what they stand for.“
Hudgens has worked with and raised money for Best Buddies International, a group that helps children with mental disabilities, and St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital. Hudgens regularly volunteers for other charitable activities, including those for Lollipop Theater Network and the VH1 Save The Music Foundation. Hudgens is also featured in A Very Special Christmas Vol.7 disc which benefits the Special Olympics. Hudgens is also part of the "Stand Up to Cancer (SU2C): Change The Odds" along with other Hollywood stars including Zac Efron, Dakota Fanning, Kristen Bell, and others.
Hudgens is also a pescatarian.
Quotations:
"Being cool is being your own self, not doing something that someone else is telling you to do."
"So many people try to grow up too fast, and it's not fun! You should stay a kid as long as possible!"
"If people don't like me for whatever I do, for being me, then that's too bad. I don't want to change to be something that I'm not for other people to like me."
"I love and really respect strong women. I'm obsessed with Scarlett Johansson, Drew Barrymore, and Penélope Cruz. They are just really incredibly strong-willed, intelligent females in the industry."
"I don't like being stagnant. I want to continue to grow and just be better at what I do, and the only way to do that is to keep stepping outside of your comfort zone."
Personality
Vaness Hudgens is a confessed shopaholic. Her favorite thing to buy is shoes and she says she has three closets devoted entirely to her show collection. She also loves Native American-inspired jewelry.
On September 6, 2007, several pictures of Vanessa were released on the internet. Subsequently, a major controversy engulfed her as she was nude in some of the pictures. A similar incident happened again in August 2009.
In May 2016, Hudgens paid $1,000 in restitution for damage of U.S. Forest Service property by carving initials within a heart on a rock in the Coconino National Forest and displaying it on her personal Instagram feed.
Interests
Photography
Writers
The Four Agreements by Don Miguel Ruiz
Music & Bands
Led Zeppelin, Alicia Keys, Celine Dion
Connections
Hudgens and her on-screen love interest Efron became a couple off-screen as well, they stayed together for almost five years. Their highly followed romance lasted through both sequels of the High School Musical franchise. Eventually, the couple split in 2010. Hudgens has been in a relationship with actor Austin Butler since September 2011.