Vanessa Anne Hudgens is a young actress best known for her appearances on The Disney Channel, including her starring turn in the TV movie High School Musical (2006). Hudgens grew up in southern California and began her acting career before she was in her teens. She began getting roles on television in 2002, and soon landed roles in the feature films Thirteen (2003) and Thunderbirds (2004, directed by Jonathan Frakes). Already a regular guest on the Disney comedy series The Suite Life of Zack and Cody, she was picked to star opposite Zac Efron in the made-for-TV romance High School Musical (also starring Ashley Tisdale). The movie was a hit and the soundtrack reached the top of Billboard's charts, leading to a record deal for Hudgens. She also starred in the 2007 sequel, High School Musical 2.