An Interview with: Vanessa Anne Hugdens Vanessa Anne Hugdens could easily be one of the most beautiful teen actresses working in Hollywood. With her long dark tresses and bright dark eyes, she has the look of the girl next door. But she is more than a pretty face. Since her cinematic debut in the critically acclaimed independent film Thirteen, she’s become a sought after performer. She has been seen on Cover Me, Brothers Garcia and The Suite Life of Zack and Cody to name but a few. But her biggest success has been the breakout High School Musical. This Disney Channel Original Movie has become the must see blockbuster. In the film, Vanessa portrays Gabriella, a self confessed “brainiac” new girl who wants to break out of her clique and audition for the high school winter musical.

She befriends Troy (Zac Efron) a jock with the same desire to be on stage. The two have to leap over the hurdles of stereotyping and peer pressure in order to make a stand of being an individual.

This little flick has taken on a very successful life of its own. During its ten showings on the Disney Channel, this film generated an audience of over 35 million viewers. The soundtrack has gone double platinum and twice topped the charts. Vanessa is featured on half a dozen tracks that have charted on the Billboard Hot 100. Her duet “Breaking Free” is a top ten smash and her solo song “When There Was Me and You” is also a fast climber. With her voice on so much charted music, the reality of the event should have become an accepted event. “It still hasn’t sunk in my head, to go to the I-tunes store and see High School Musical number one. I’m going in to buy music and see us there; it’s way beyond weird. I was really blown away.”

Even though she is a proficient dancer, Vanessa claims she is a ‘self admitted klutz’ who has been training for the theater since she was seven. She is also an accomplished musician, noting that the first piece of music she learned to play was Moonlight Sonata. The film High School Musical is not only a showcase for her dancing but for her musical skills as well.

No one expected the worldwide phenomenon that High School Musical has become. “We had no idea it was going to even blow up,” she said. “I think everyone was scared after shooting it. Everyone was so pumped up about it thinking ‘Well, I hope it is everything it’s been pumped up to be.’ I was like ‘Wow, it turned out better than I thought it would be’.”

But Vanessa does have a theory about the popularity of this film. “It’s something I think everyone can relate to. The cliques in high school were always there, no matter how old or how young you are,” she said.

Even though she is home schooled, Vanessa is very much a typical high school girl doing all the normal things a teenager does. She admits to looking at fan sites on the Internet including the ones for her movie, but it more to see what people are saying about her fellow cast members of High School Musical.

With all the hit songs, more than just casting directors have shown and interest in the career of Vanessa Anne Hudgens. “I was offered record deals, nice record deals from very big prestigious companies,” she said. But she hesitated until she felt the time was right. “Finally, I decided to start working with some record producers.”

And when questioned if all this sudden fame and adoration has changed her fellow cast members, she said, “I don’t think we’ve changed. We are still doing the exact things that every other teenager is doing besides the fact that we are doing this and we travel a lot. I think our schedules are a bit hectic.”

Asked what her plans are for the future in Hollywood, Vanessa stated in a very matter of fact way, “I want to do every thing -- the goodie roles to the serious roles.”

Vanessa Anne Hudgens shows the talent and drive to do anything she puts her mind to.

High School Musical is available on DVD May 23