Vanessa Hudgens reflects on Zac Efron chemistry during 'High School Musical' audition and film years

Vanessa Hudgens has spoken about her early experiences working with Zac Efron during the making of High School Musical, recalling their first audition together and the chemistry that grew between them.

The actress, now expecting her second child with husband Cole Tucker, appeared on Bart Johnson’s Get Your Head In The Game podcast, where she explained that she auditioned for the Disney Channel film by singing either “Angels” by Jessica Simpson or “Reflection” from Mulan. She said she was then paired with Efron at a group casting event.

“At the final callback, there was one other girl there for Gabriella, one other guy there for Troy. We swapped, mixed and matched and yeah, that was it,” Hudgens recalled.

The 36-year-old added that, coming from a musical theatre background, she was thrilled by the opportunity. She also admitted her first impression of Efron as a teenager left a mark, saying, “Of course I was a child and paired with this boy and I was like, ‘Oh my god, he’s so cute.’ The chemistry was so real.”

She explained that her glances at him during the 2006 film’s opening karaoke scene were authentic, noting, “It really does help, especially when you’re young and it’s all sweet and innocent.”

Hudgens and Efron went on to date in real life from 2005 until 2010. In later interviews, including with Nylon in 2022, she reflected that much of her private life remained out of the public eye, but hinted that one day her memoir would provide a fuller account.

Her reflections mark a rare public comment on her relationship with Efron, years after their on-screen and off-screen partnership shaped the High School Musical franchise.