15 Minutes With Vanessa Hudgens

With just a handful of feature film credits, including the critically acclaimed Thirteen, and a host of recurring TV-role credits on her resume, it took just one movie — High School Musical — to catapult Vanessa Hudgens to teen fame. “From the beginning I always wanted to sing and dance,” Hudgens tells us. And today the 18-year-old actor and singer is doing just that.

This past year has to have been such a whirlwind for you — with the success of HSM, the concert tour and the release of your album V. What’s been the best part of all of this?

I think the surprise element of it. The fact that we did a kids movie — it shows the power of kids is so strong … and that we brought back musicals is so amazing.

You toured with The Cheetah Girls and with the HSM concert tour; how was that?


Touring is crazy. Not my thing, but I love performing. Being onstage in front of people who don’t even speak English and they are singing the words to the song and they know it just as well as you do, if not better, is amazing. [It really] shows music is a universal language and you can speak through it.

What are you doing now?

Kind of looking for my next job. I want to do a movie. Just now, hanging out and enjoying life.

When you’re not working, what do you enjoy doing?

Relaxing, doing absolutely nothing because I can. Sit around watching movies. I love going out to eat. Hanging out with my friends. Going shopping.

What color is your room and how do you have it decorated?

I’m in my room right now, and it’s like a cream color. I’m like a hopeless romantic so I love deep, dark colors. Deep, dark reds are my favorite color. I have candles. My bed’s red. I have a canopy thingy above my bed. I’m very proud of my flat-screen TV and surround sound.

If you could meet any celebrity, who would you want to meet and why?

If it was anyone, I’d bring Natalie Wood back from the dead so I could meet her. She’s my idol.

Where do you like to shop and buy your clothes?

I like Urban Outfitters; they are, like, my favorite store.

What’s Corbin Bleu like?

Corbin Bleu is a silly guy. He loves fashion and he’s just very nice.

What’s the last movie you watched?

Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory

Are you afraid of anything?

Bees. I hate bees.