Vanessa Hudgens

Biography

Vanessa Anne Hudgens (born December 14, 1988) is an American actress and singer. After making her feature film debut in Thirteen (2003), Hudgens rose to fame portraying Gabriella Montez in the High School Musical film series (2006–2008), which brought her significant mainstream media success. The success of the first film led Hudgens to acquire a recording contract with Hollywood Records, with whom she released two studio albums, V (2006) and Identified (2008). Since the release of her studio albums and the High School Musical franchise, Hudgens has focused on her acting career. She appeared in the films Bandslam (2009), Beastly, Sucker Punch (both 2011), Journey 2: The Mysterious Island, Spring Breakers (both 2012), Second Act (2018), Bad Boys for Life (2020), and Tick, Tick...Boom! (2021). She starred in the Netflix Christmas movies The Princess Switch (2018) and its sequels (2020 and 2021) and The Knight Before Christmas (2019), and co-produced the latter three. Hudgens played the role of Emily Locke in the NBC series Powerless (2017). She also played the title role in the Broadway musical 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.

Known For

The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon

Watch What Happens Live with Andy Cohen

The Kelly Clarkson Show

Conan

The Late Late Show with James Corden

The View

The View

El hormiguero

All Movies (52)

• Hannah Montana 20th Anniversary Special2026 · as Self (archive footage)
• Bad Boys: Ride or Die2024 · as Kelly
• French Girl2024 · as Ruby Collins
• Downtown Owl2023 · as Naomi
• Dead Hot2023 · as Self
• Haunted House: Trick-VR-Treat2022 · as The Fairy / Doll Woman
• Entergalactic2022 · as Karina (voice)
• Asking For It2022 · as Beatrice
• Honoring a Broadway Legacy: Behind the Scenes of tick, tick...Boom!2022 · as Self
• The Princess Switch 3: Romancing the Star2021 · as Fiona Pembroke / Lady Margaret / Stacy
• tick, tick... BOOM!2021 · as Karessa Johnson
• Savage X Fenty Show Vol. 32021 · as Self
• My Little Pony: A New Generation2021 · as Sunny Starscout (voice)
• The Princess Switch: Switched Again2020 · as Stacy De Novo / Lady Margaret Delacourt / Fiona Pembroke
• Bad Boys for Life2020 · as Kelly
• The Knight Before Christmas2019 · as Brooke
• Rent2019 · as Maureen Johnson
• Polar2019 · as Camille
• Second Act2018 · as Zoe
• The Princess Switch2018 · as Stacy De Novo/Lady Margaret
• Hocus Pocus 25th Anniversary Halloween Bash2018 · as Self - Host
• Dog Days2018 · as Tara
• Drugs, Skate & Violence: Filmmaker Harmony Korine2017 · as Self - Archive Footage
• Grease Live2016 · as Betty Rizzo
• High School Musical: 10th Anniversary2016
• Freaks of Nature2015 · as Lorelei
• Choose You2013 · as Ex-Girlfriend
• Gimme Shelter2013 · as Agnes 'Apple' Bailey
• Machete Kills2013 · as Cereza
• The Frozen Ground2013 · as Cindy Paulson
• Spring Breakers2013 · as Candy
• WWE Royal Rumble 20132013 · as Herself (voice)
• Journey 2: The Mysterious Island2012 · as Kailani Laguatan
• Sucker Punch2011 · as Blondie
• Beastly2011 · as Lindy Taylor
• Bandslam2009 · as Sa5m
• Zac Efron's Pool Party2009 · as Self
• High School Musical 3: Making of a Musical2008 · as Self
• High School Musical 3: Senior Year2008 · as Gabriella Montez
• Walt Disney World Christmas Day Parade2007 · as Self
• High School Musical 22007 · as Gabriella Montez
• High School Musical: The Concert2007 · as Self
• High School Musical Dance-Along2006 · as Self
• High School Musical2006 · as Gabriella Montez
• No Strings Attached: The Making of Thunderbirds2004 · as Self
• Thunderbirds2004 · as Tintin
• Thirteen2003 · as Noel
• The Awakening— · as Self
• The Black Kaiser—
• Big Rig— · as Bertie
• Full Moon Retreat—
• Quiet Storm—

All TV Shows (44)

• Fright Krewe2023 · as Madison (voice)
• Rennervations2023 · as Self
• Earth to Ned2020 · as Herself
• Thanks a Million2020 · as Self
• The Kelly Clarkson Show2019 · as Self
• The Masked Singer2019 · as Self - Goldfish (archive footage)
• Busy Tonight2018 · as Self - Guest
• Eli Roth's History of Horror2018 · as Self
• Drop the Mic2017 · as Self
• Powerless2017 · as Emily Locke
• The Boulet Brothers' Dragula2016 · as Self - Guest Judge
• The Late Late Show with James Corden2015 · as Self
• Hot Ones2015 · as Self
• Running Wild with Bear Grylls2014 · as Self
• The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon2014 · as Self - Guest
• RuPaul's Drag Race All Stars2012 · as Self - Guest Judge
• OK! TV2011
• Conan2010 · as Self
• Watch What Happens Live with Andy Cohen2009 · as Self - Guest
• High School Musical: Get in the Picture2008 · as Gabriella Montez
• El hormiguero2006 · as Ella misma
• Disney Channel Games2006 · as Self
• The Tyra Banks Show2005
• So You Think You Can Dance2005 · as Self - Judge
• The Suite Life of Zack & Cody2005 · as Corrie
• Quintuplets2004 · as Carmen
• Drake & Josh2004 · as Rebecca
• The Ellen DeGeneres Show2003 · as Self
• Punk'd2003 · as Self
• Still Standing2002 · as Tiffany
• Robbery Homicide Division2002 · as Nicole
• The Brothers García2000 · as Lindsey
• Teen Choice Awards1999 · as Self
• The View1997 · as Self - Guest
• The View1997 · as Self
• MTV Movie & TV Awards1992 · as Self - Presenter
• MTV Movie & TV Awards1992 · as Self - Host
• The Tonight Show with Jay Leno1992
• LIVE with Kelly and Mark1988 · as Self - Guest
• Kids' Choice Awards1987 · as Self
• MTV Video Music Awards1984 · as Self
• Christmas in Washington1982 · as Self
• People's Choice Awards1975 · as Self - Presenter
• The Oscars1953 · as Self