Vanessa Hudgens

Vanessa Hudgens began her career in the world of musical theatre at the tender age of 8. Immediately realizing the incredible future that lay before her, she has tirelessly pursued her dream with much success. These early roles in such productions as “Evita,” “Carousel,” “The Wizard of Oz,” “The King & I,” “The Music Man,” “Cinderella” and “Damn Yankees” gave Vanessa the opportunity to showcase her impressive singing and acting skills.

The recognition Vanessa received quickly brought her to the screen. She made her feature film debut in Catherine Hardwicke’s “Thirteen” starring Holly Hunter and Evan Rachel Wood. Soon thereafter, she co-starred in the action-adventure film “Thunderbirds” and was a recurring guest star on Disney Channel’s “The Suite Life of Zach & Cody.” Her other television credits include appearances on “Quintuplets,” “Brothers Garcia,” “Still Standing” and “Robbery Homicide Division.”

It was however Vanessa’s role in Disney Channel’s breakaway sensation “High School Musical” that has garnered her much praise and attention. She played Gabrielle Montez, the sweet girl torn between her attraction to both basketball jock Troy Bolton and the school musical auditions. With critics and fans clamoring for more, Vanessa was also seen in the films’ highly successful follow ups “High School Musical 2” and “High School Musical 3: Senior Year.” Vanessa followed up her High School Musical hits by starring in “Bandslam”, a film which centers around a High School misfit and a popular girl who form an unlikely bond through their love for music.

She can be seen in “Beastly” a modern day take on Beauty & the Beast, for CBS Films and Zack Snyder’s highly anticipated “Sucker Punch” for Warner Bros. Hudgens was also seen last summer as Mimi in a stage production of “Rent” directed by her Beastly co-star, Neil Patrick Harris. Hudgens is also just wrapped production for “Journey 2: The Mysterious Island”.

Although acting has consumed much of her time, Vanessa still has been able to devote herself to singing and performing. She released her debut solo album “V”—a captivating variety of rock, electronic and R&B styles—and toured with the Cheetah Girls. She followed up with her second album for Hollywood Records called “Identified.”

Hudgens resides in Los Angeles.