THE EVOLUTION OF VANESSA HUDGENS

Starting out

Aged 14, Hudgens lands supporting roles in silver-screen debut Thirteen (2003) and Thunderbirds (2004) – based on the original ‘60s TV series.

Big break

Cast as Gabriella Montez in Disney’s High School Musical in 2005, which becomes the second most-watched movie in the UK and US after its release the following year. Even its soundtrack peaked at No1 on the Billboard 200 list.

Gabriella and Troy

Disney’s starcrossed lovers Gabriella and basketball captain Troy Bolton (Zac Efron) didn’t actually share their first kiss until the very end of High School Musical 2 against a backdrop of floating lanterns and fireworks – plus sprinklers spraying them with water. But what a moment it was.

First love

So hot was Hudgens and Efron’s on-screen chemistry, they started dating IRL and became the Brangelina of the teen world. Their relationship lasted an impressive five years in the spotlight before the pair decided to go their separate ways in 2010. Our hearts still hurt.

True love

Hudgens met Austin Butler (right) on the set of the Disney musical, but they didn’t start dating until 2011 – a year after her split from Efron. In March 2018, Hudgens was forced to deny engagement rumours after sharing a selfie on Instagram in which she looked to be wearing a diamond ring.

Music

Signing a solo record contract with Hollywood Records in 2006, she released her debut solo album, V, which peaked at No24 in the US charts. When her 2008 follow-up, Identified, failed commercially, she parted ways with her label and went back to focusing on acting.

Film

Since graduating from HSM, Hudgens has appeared in no less than 21 Hollywood movies, including Bandslam (2009), Beastly (2011), Sucker Punch (2011), Journey 2: The Mysterious Island (2012), Spring Breakers (2013), The Princess Switch (2018), Second Act (2018) and Bad Boys For Life (2020).

Broadway

Making her musical lead-role debut in Gigi in 2015, she’s also performed in Rent: Live and played Rizzo in Fox’s Grease: Live musical special. It was nominated for 10 Emmy Awards and won five.

Karaoke

In November last year, Hudgens shared a video of herself singing HSM’s Breaking Free during a boozy karaoke session to her 36.2 million Instagram followers. Showing she doesn’t take herself too seriously, she said, “That happened. It hurts my ears but also makes me laugh. Dear lord.”