Vanessa Hudgens: Snapshot
- Name
- Vanessa Hudgens
- Date of Birth
- December 14, 1988
- Birth Place
- Salinas, Calif.
The notoriety hasn't hurt the California native. At 13, she made her TV debut on an episode of Still Standing before landing the role that would make her a teen idol and introduce her to real-life love, heartthrob Zac Efron. Riding on her HSM fame, Hudgens released two solo albums (2006's V and 2008's Identified), endorsed Neutrogena, took her relationship with Efron public, reprised her role in HSM2 and HSM3: Senior Year, and landed on PEOPLE's Most Beautiful list.
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Vanessa Hudgens: Five Fun Facts
- After Hawaiian vacation photos of Vanessa Hudgens and High School Musical costar Zac Efron were published in 2007, fans dubbed the two "Zanessa" and posted dozens of YouTube video tributes to the tween power couple.
- Vanessa Hudgens admitted to Tyra Banks that she "loves" Matt Damon. "I was 14 years old and I met him. I completely freaked out. Like, I did to him what my fans do to me. I was like, 'Ohmigosh, I love you so much, can I have your autograph?'"
- Vanessa Hudgens has three closets dedicated entirely to shoes. Her favorites are Christian Louboutin stilettos.
- While dating teen heartthrob Zac Efron, Vanessa Hudgens has had to contend with her feelings about his ubiquitous groupies. "I am, the girl who will get jealous," she told PEOPLE in 2006.
- Along with real-life love Zac Efron, Vanessa Hudgens won a 2006 Teen Choice Award for best on-screen chemistry in High School Musical.
Vanessa Hudgens: Biography 
- 1997
The World's A Stage
Vanessa Anne Hudgens, who has been taking piano, dance and vocal lessons, begins performing in local theater productions such as The Wizard of Oz and The Music Man. Recognizing their daughter's passion for musicals and acting, Greg and Gina Hudgens relocate their family from Salinas, Calif. to L.A. so Vanessa can pursue acting professionally.
- 2002
Vanessa Goes Professional
Hudgens, 13, makes her TV debut on an episode of the CBS comedy Still Standing before landing in the R-rated coming-of-age drama Thirteen. Appearing in the film with Evan Rachel Wood (right), she plays Noel, a pig-tailed, good-girl classmate of Wood's out-of-control character.
- 2005
The Naked Truth
Hudgens tapes an episode of the Nickelodeon show Drake & Josh. After the taping, Hudgens, then 16, reportedly takes a nude photo of herself and sends it to show star Drake Bell (left). Bell's rep later tells PEOPLE, "Drake says he never received those photos." Nevertheless, the shot will surface on the web and cause an uproar two years later.
Photo Credits
BIOGRAPHY (top to bottom): Courtesy Vanessas Hudgens
