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High School Musical franchise (Gabriella Montez), Spring Breakers, Sucker Punch, Gigi on Broadway, Rent: Live, Tick, Tick… Boom!.
Key Dates and Places
Born Date: December 14, 1988.
Born Place: Salinas, California, USA.
Career
Current occupation: Actress, Singer, Producer.
Past occupations: Voice actress, Dancer, Model.
Current Place of Work: Film sets, Television studios, Theaters, Recording studios.
Previous Place of Work: Various film sets, television studios and theaters depending on the project.
Achievements and Recognition
Awards: Teen Choice Awards (multiple wins), Kids' Choice Awards, CinemaCon Award for Ensemble of the Summer, MTV Movie Awards nomination. She also received critical acclaim for her role in Tick, Tick... Boom!, earning several nominations for Best Actress.
Education
She was home-schooled after High School Musical to accommodate her acting career.
Identifying Marks: Tattoos (including a butterfly on her neck, Om symbol on her hands, and others), she has a beauty mark above her lip.
Vocal Type: Mezzo-soprano.
Personality
Temper: Seems generally upbeat and positive in public. No significant public instances of reported volatile temper.
Life Philosophy: She often speaks about self-love, positivity, and living in the moment. She is also an advocate for environmental causes and animal rights.
Lifestyle
Current Sport Activity and Training Regime: Regularly practices yoga, Pilates, and hiking. Often posts about her workouts on social media.
Past Sport Activity and Training Regime: Has a dance background from her early career.
Residence and Financial Status
Residence: Los Angeles, California.
Net Worth: Estimated around $16 million (USD).
Real Estate: Has owned and sold multiple properties in the Los Angeles area.
Assets: Real estate, investments, personal belongings, earnings from acting, singing, endorsements, and business ventures (e.g., Know Beauty).
Relationships
Past Romantic Relationships: Zac Efron (2005-2010), Austin Butler (2011-2020).
Current Romantic Relationship: Cole Tucker.
Current Marriage: Married to Cole Tucker, December 2nd, 2023.
Vanessa Anne Hudgens was born in Salinas, California, to Gregory Hudgens, a firefighter, and Gina Guangco, an office worker. Her diverse heritage (her father had Irish, English, and Native American ancestry, while her mother is of Filipino, Spanish, and Chinese descent) instilled in her a rich cultural background. Her passion for performing arts began early, influencing her career trajectory.
Musical Theater Beginnings
Early 1990s - Early 2000s
Hudgens began performing in musical theater at a young age, appearing in productions like "Evita," "Carousel," "The Wizard of Oz," "The King and I," and "The Music Man." These experiences provided her with a strong foundation in singing, dancing, and acting, honing her skills and setting the stage for her future endeavors in the entertainment industry.
Early Television Roles
2003-2005
Hudgens transitioned to television, making her acting debut in an episode of the CBS sitcom "Still Standing." She also appeared in episodes of "The Brothers Garcia" and "Quintuplets." These early roles, though small, exposed her to the world of television acting and built her experience in front of the camera.
Breakthrough with High School Musical
2006
Hudgens' career skyrocketed with her role as Gabriella Montez in the Disney Channel Original Movie "High School Musical." The film became a massive cultural phenomenon, and Hudgens, along with her co-stars, became overnight sensations. The film's soundtrack, featuring Hudgens' vocals, topped the Billboard charts, further solidifying her star power.
Music Career and High School Musical Sequels
2006-2008
Capitalizing on her "High School Musical" success, Hudgens launched her music career. She released her debut album, "V," in 2006, followed by "Identified" in 2008. She also starred in "High School Musical 2" (2007) and "High School Musical 3: Senior Year" (2008), which continued the franchise's popularity and kept her in the spotlight.
Transition to More Mature Roles
2009-2012
Seeking to diversify her image and career, Hudgens began taking on more mature roles in films such as "Bandslam" (2009), "Beastly" (2011), and "Sucker Punch" (2011). These roles allowed her to showcase her acting range and move beyond her Disney image, although success was varied.
Spring Breakers
2013
Hudgens starred in the controversial but critically discussed film "Spring Breakers." This role was one of her first true departures from her established Disney image, and demonstrated her willingness to branch out into edgier projects. The film served as a definitive marker in her transition to more serious adult roles.
Broadway Debut in Gigi
2015
Hudgens made her Broadway debut in the title role of "Gigi." This marked a return to her musical theater roots and showcased her vocal and dance abilities on the prestigious Broadway stage. Despite receiving mixed reviews, the production exposed her to a new audience and reaffirmed her dedication to performing arts.
Grease: Live!
2016
Hudgens performed as Rizzo in Fox's live television production of "Grease: Live!" This performance was particularly poignant as it came shortly after the death of her father. Her professionalism and emotional depth during the performance were widely praised, solidifying her reputation as a resilient and talented performer.
Rent: Live and Polar
2019
Hudgens played Maureen Johnson in Fox's live television production of "Rent: Live." She also starred in the Netflix film "Polar," expanding her presence on streaming platforms and showcasing her versatility in different genres.
Continued Acting Career and Business Ventures
2020s - Present
Hudgens continues to be active in film and television, appearing in projects such as "The Princess Switch" film series on Netflix, "tick, tick... BOOM!" and hosting MTV Movie & TV Awards. She has also ventured into business, co-founding the KNOW Beauty skincare line and Caliwater cactus water, demonstrating her entrepreneurial spirit. Furthermore, she serves as the host for the Academy Awards pre-show, continuing to showcase her versatility as a public figure. Her continued success solidifies her place as a dynamic force in the entertainment and business worlds.
Hudgens played the role of Emily Locke in the NBC series Powerless (2017). She made her Broadway stage debut playing Gigi in the musical revival of Gigi (2015) and had roles in two of Fox's live musical productions: Rizzo in Grease Live! (2016) and Maureen Johnson in Rent: Live (2019). In 2022, Hudgens co-hosted the Met Gala in Manhattan.
Vanessa Anne Hudgens was born in Salinas, California, and was raised in various locations along the West Coast, from Oregon to Southern California. Her mother, Gina (née Guangco), held a succession of office jobs, and her father, Gregory Hudgens, was a firefighter.[3][4] She has a younger sister, Stella, who is also an actress.[5] She was raised as a Catholic.[6] Her father, who died of cancer in February 2016,[7] was of mostly English descent, and her mother is Filipina and grew up in Mindanao.[8][4][9] All of her grandparents were musicians.[10]
Hudgens had her first acting role in an episode of the sitcom Still Standing, airing on CBS in 2002,[15] in which she portrayed Tiffany.[16] Later that year, she appeared in an episode of the series Robbery Homicide Division, airing on CBS. Hudgens made her theatrical debut in the 2003 drama film Thirteen, in the supporting role of Noel. The film grossed $10 million worldwide and received positive critical reviews.[17]USA Today called Thirteen the most "powerful of all recent wayward-youth sagas".[18] Hudgens subsequently landed a role in the 2004 science fiction-adventure film Thunderbirds, based on the 1960s television series. Hudgens portrayed the character of Tin-tin. The film was a commercial failure and was strongly criticized for "abandoning the original concepts".[19]
In January 2006, Hudgens played Gabriella Montez, one of the lead roles in the Disney Channel Original MovieHigh School Musical. The film saw Hudgens portraying the new girl at high school who falls for the captain of the basketball team. The two later reveal a passion for singing, and audition for the school play together. Hudgens starred alongside Zac Efron and Ashley Tisdale,[20] the former of which she was partnered up with during the auditioning process due to their "chemistry".[21] It was Disney Channel's most-watched film that year with 7.7 million viewers in its premiere broadcast in the US, until August's premiere of The Cheetah Girls 2, which achieved 8.1 million viewers.[22]
For the film, Hudgens recorded numerous songs which had commercial success. The song "Breaking Free", a duet with Efron, became Hudgens' highest peak on the US Billboard Hot 100 at number 4, and number 9 in the UK.[23] Following the success of the film, Hudgens released her debut studio album, V, on September 26, 2006. It sold 34,000 copies in its first week, and debuted at number 24 on the US Billboard 200 chart.[24] In February 2007, the album was certified Gold by the Recording Industry Association of America.[25] By August 2009, the album had sold 570,000 copies in the US.[26] It was preceded by two singles, "Come Back to Me" and "Say OK", both of which were moderately successful in several countries.
Hudgens in concert in January 2007
In 2007, Hudgens reprised her role as Gabriella in High School Musical 2, released on August 17. The show was watched by over 17.2 million viewers in the US, almost 10 million more than its predecessor, making it the most-watched Disney Channel Original Movie of all time.[27] Disney Channel aired a weekly program called Road to High School Musical 2, beginning on June 8, and leading up to the premiere of High School Musical 2 in August. The show offered viewers a behind-the-scenes look into the production of the movie. The opening number "What Time Is It" was first broadcast on Radio Disney on May 25, 2007,[28] and "You Are the Music in Me" was introduced on July 13, 2007.[29] The film was generally well received by critics.[30][31]USA Today's Robert Bianco awarded the film three stars out of four, stating that High School Musical 2 was "sweet, smart, bursting with talent and energy, and awash in innocence".[32] While critics enjoyed the film, they noted that the timing of its premiere seemed odd, premiering just when school was about to resume again whereas the film's plot involved the gang going on summer vacation.[33]
Her second studio album, Identified, was released on July 1, 2008, in the United States. It sold 22,000 copies in its first week, 12,000 less than V.[34] Despite the drop in sales, the album debuted at number 23 on the Billboard 200, one spot higher than V.[35] The album was preceded by one single, "Sneakernight", which peaked at number 88 on the Billboard Hot 100.[23] Hudgens reprised her role in High School Musical 3: Senior Year, the first film from the franchise to be released theatrically. It opened at number one at the North American box office in October 2008, earning $42 million in its first weekend, which broke the record previously held by Mamma Mia! for the biggest opening by a musical.[36] The film finished with $252 million worldwide, which exceeded Disney's expectations.[37]
Hudgens at the MyHabit launch at Skylight West Studios in May 2011
Following the completion of the High School Musical series, Hudgens said that she was taking a break from her music career to focus more on acting.[38] She played a supporting role in a musical comedy Bandslam, which was released theatrically on August 14, 2009.[39][40] Hudgens played "Sa5m", a 15-year-old awkward freshman with untapped talents.[41] Although Bandslam was commercially unsuccessful, Hudgens' performance received praise from critics.[42] David Waddington of the North Wales Pioneer noted that Hudgens "outshines the rest of the cast, failing to fit in with the outcast narrative and making the inevitable climactic ending all the more expected".[43]
In 2010, Hudgens starred in the musical Rent as Mimi during August 6–8, 2010, at the Hollywood Bowl.[44] Her involvement in the production drew negative comments, but director Neil Patrick Harris defended his decision with casting Hudgens by saying, "Vanessa is awesome. She's a friend. I asked her to come in and sing to make sure she had the chops for it. And she was very committed and seemed great."[45]
In 2011, Hudgens starred with Alex Pettyfer in the film Beastly, based on Alex Flinn's 2007 novel Beastly.[46] She played one of the main characters, Linda Taylor, and described her as "the 'beauty' of the story but not the stereotypical beauty everyone thinks of."[47] Hudgens and Pettyfer were described as ShoWest Stars of Tomorrow.[48]Beastly was released on March 4, 2011, to mostly negative reviews. The film was screened at ShoWest and drew enthusiastic reactions from the luncheon crowd of exhibition officials.[49][50] The film went on to make $28 million worldwide as of 2012. Hudgens also starred as one of the five female leads in the action film Sucker Punch, directed by Zack Snyder.[51] She played Blondie, an institutionalized girl in an asylum. The film was released in March 2011,[52] and grossed $19 million in its first weekend at the North American box office, opening at number two.[53] By the end of its run, Sucker Punch totaled $89 million worldwide.[54]
In 2013, Hudgens starred alongside Selena Gomez, Ashley Benson, Rachel Korine and James Franco in the film Spring Breakers. The story followed four college-aged girls who decide to rob a fast food restaurant in order to pay for their spring break.[60] It was released theatrically in March 2013,[61] receiving generally positive reviews.[62][63] The film featured mature themes such as drug use, violence, and sexual escapades.[64][65][66] To coincide with the film, Hudgens released the dubstep-influenced song "$$$ex",[67] with a music video featuring clips from the film.[68] The song features guest vocals from YLA, and was produced by Rock Mafia.[69] Hudgens later expressed her discomfort with a sex scene: "It was very nerve-racking for me. I told my agent that I never want to do it ever again."[70][71] Later that year, Hudgens played Cindy Paulson in The Frozen Ground, a film based on the Robert Hansen serial murder case, with Hudgens portraying Hansen's only known victim to escape. She co-starred with John Cusack and Nicolas Cage.[72] She also starred in the action film Machete Kills, based on the character Machete from the Spy Kids franchise. The film was directed by Robert Rodriguez.[73] By the end of the year, Hudgens starred alongside Michael Shannon, Joel Marsh Garland, Dree Hemingway, and Nick Lashaway in Spike Jonze's short comedy-drama film Choose You.[74] The cast performed the film live as a skit at the first YouTube Music Awards, to the music of Avicii.[75]
In 2014, Hudgens starred as a pregnant teenage runaway girl in the drama film Gimme Shelter with Brendan Fraser, written and directed by Ron Krauss.[76][77]
On January 31, 2016, Hudgens starred in the role of Rizzo in Grease Live!, Fox's live broadcast based on the original Broadway musical.[83] Hudgens dedicated her performance to her father, who died from cancer one day before the special aired.[84]
In 2020, Hudgens appeared in the third entry in the Bad Boys franchise, Bad Boys for Life,[100] which grossed over $426 million worldwide.[101] In November that year, she starred in and produced the Netflix film The Princess Switch's sequel, The Princess Switch: Switched Again.[102] By the end of the year, Hudgens hosted the MTV Movie & TV Awards: Greatest of All Time television special, which highlighted the greatest moments of film and television since the 1980s, as well as moments from past editions of the award ceremony.[103]
In 2024, Hudgens competed in season eleven of The Masked Singer as "Goldfish". She won the season with Scott Porter as "Gumball" finishing in second place. Both of them made references to their work in Bandslam.[113]
Hudgens was raised Catholic but now identifies as a non-denominational Christian. She attends the Los Angeles affiliate church of Hillsong Church.[114][115][116]
In March 2020, Hudgens posted an Instagram video where she stated that it is "inevitable" that people will die from the COVID-19 pandemic.[124] The video caused controversy as critics accused her of minimizing the impact of the disease and the need for preventive measures. She subsequently apologized for her "insensitive" remarks.[125]
On September 6, 2007, photos allegedly stolen from Hudgens were leaked online, one showing her posing in lingerie and another showing her nude. A statement from her publicist said that the photo was taken privately and it was unfortunate that they were released on the Internet. Hudgens later apologized, saying that she was "embarrassed over the situation" and regretted having "taken [those] photos".[126] In January 2008, Hudgens released a statement indicating that she declined to comment further on the subject.[127] In October 2007, OK! magazine speculated that Hudgens would be dropped from High School Musical 3 as a result of the explicit images,[128] but The Walt Disney Company denied this, stating, "Vanessa has apologized for what was obviously a lapse in judgment. We hope she's learned a valuable lesson."[129][130][131]
In August 2009, another set of images showing Hudgens topless emerged on the Internet. Hudgens' representatives did not comment, though her lawyers requested the removal of the pictures.[132][133] In late 2009, Hudgens sued www.moejackson.com for posting nude "self-portrait photographs" of her taken on a mobile phone in a private home.[134] Hudgens later commented on the photos' impact on her career in the October issue of Allure, stating, "Whenever anybody asks me, would I do nudity in a film, if I say that it's something I'm not comfortable with, they're like, 'Bullshit, you've already done it.' If anything, it makes it more embarrassing, because that was a private thing. It's screwed up that someone screwed me over like that. At least some people are learning from my mistake."[135] According to Us Weekly, additional nude images were released on the Internet on March 15, 2011.[136]
Hudgens in January 2012 at Bondi Beach, SydneyPhilippine president Bongbong Marcos presenting the Global Tourism Ambassador Award to Hudgens in March 2023.[137]
Hudgens was represented by William Morris Agency[138] but signed on to Creative Artists Agency in 2011.[139] In 2006, Hudgens' earnings were estimated to be $2 million.[140] Hudgens was included in Forbes richest list in early 2007, and the Forbes article noted that she was included in Young Hollywood's Top Earning-Stars.[141] On December 12, 2008, Hudgens was ranked No. 20 in the list of Forbes "High Earners Under 30", having reported to have an estimated earnings of $3 million in 2008.[142][143] She was number 62 at FHM's 100 Sexiest Women 2008 and number 42 in the 2009 list.[144][145] Hudgens is also featured in Maxim's lists.[146] She was included in People's annual "100 Most Beautiful People" 2008 and 2009 lists.[147][148]
Brian Schall sued Hudgens in 2007 for an alleged "breach of contract"; according to the suit, Schall claims he advanced costs and expenses on Hudgens' behalf for her songwriting and recording career.[160] Schall claims Hudgens owed him $150,000 after helping her earn more than $5 million for her music career. Hudgens argued that she was a 16-year-old minor when she signed the contract in October 2005, and therefore too young to do so. She subsequently disaffirmed it on October 9, 2008. Papers filed in court by her lawyer say California's Family Code "provides that the contract of a minor is voidable and may be disaffirmed before (age 18) or within a reasonable time afterward."[161] In 2008, Hudgens was sued by Johnny Vieira, who claims he was owed a share of Hudgens' advances, royalties and merchandising revenue in exchange for his management services. Vieira accuses Hudgens of abandoning her talent team as soon as she became a commercial name.[162] In early May 2009, the case was settled.[163]
Hudgens is a frequent attendee of the Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival. She has been unofficially called the "Queen of Coachella". She is known for her boho-chic fashion style, occasionally going barefoot at the festival as well.[164][165]
In March 2023, Hudgens was named as a global tourism ambassador by the Philippine government.[137]
^Jon Caramanica (June 15, 2009). "Vanessa Hudgens: 'Identified'". The Atlanta Journal-Constitution. Archived from the original on July 12, 2022. Retrieved July 12, 2022. The R&B number 'Last Night' inexplicably, and compellingly, features slide guitar; 'Don't Ask Why' is an unforced apology for a breakup
^Kissell, Rick; Schneider, Michael (August 18, 2007). "'High School Musical 2' aces test". Variety. Archived from the original on November 17, 2020. Retrieved February 4, 2016.
^Waddintgon, David (August 14, 2009). "FILM: Bandslam (PG)". North Wales Pioneer. Archived from the original on June 14, 2010. Retrieved January 12, 2010.
This is a community hub built on top of the Vanessa Hudgens Wikipedia article. Here, you can discuss, collect, and organize anything related to Vanessa Hudgens. The purpose of the hub is to connect people, foster deeper knowledge, and help improve the root Wikipedia article.
This is a community hub built on top of the Vanessa Hudgens Wikipedia article. Here, you can discuss, collect, and organize anything related to Vanessa Hudgens. The purpose of the hub is to connect people, foster deeper knowledge, and help improve the root Wikipedia article.
