While Vanessa Hudgens technically had her feature movie debut in the teen drama Thirteen back in 2003 — it wasn't until her portrayal of Gabriella Montez in the High School Musical movie series which premiered in 2006 that the young actress achieved international theme. Since then Vanessa has pretty much been a staple in the industry, and over the years she has starred in quite a few famous projects.
Today's list takes a look at just what the star has been up to since her High School Musical days — so keep on scrolling to see Vanessa dabbling into music and exploring her talents on Broadway!
10 She Released Two Studio Albums — 'V' And 'Identified'
Kicking the list off is the fact that Vanessa Hudgens dabbled into the music industry in the 2000s when she released two albums. Her debut studio album titled V was released in 2006 followed by her second studio album titled Identified in 2008. Vanessa's fans were definitely thrilled that the star decided to make music however the actress's musical career never properly kicked off — even though she rose to fame in a musical.
9 Which Gave Us Hits Like "Come Back To Me" And "Sneakernight"
From her two studio albums, Vanessa Hudgens released a total of three singles. From her debut album V, the High School Musical star released the hits "Come Back to Me" and "Say OK" — while she announced her second album with the pop song "Sneakernight". After these three it seems as if Vanessa slightly gave up on her career in music — but who knows what the future holds for the star.
8 Right After 'High School Musical,' The Actress Starred In Movies Such As 'Bandslam,' 'Sucker Punch,' And 'Beastly'
In the late 2000s, Vanessa Hudgens was still known as the Disney Channel girl — and that was certainly reflected in the movies she starred in.
Back then the actress could be seen in PG-13 movies such as Bandslam, Beastly, Sucker Punch, and Journey 2: The Mysterious Island. Soon, however, Vanessa's acting career would take a slightly more grown-up turn and the star took on more challenging roles.
7 In 2013 Vanessa Proved She's Ready For More Serious Roles And She Joined The Cast Of 'Spring Breakers'
In 2012, Vanessa Hudgens — alongside her fellow former Disney Channel star Selena Gomez — somewhat said goodbye to her innocent Disney image. That year the two ladies starred in the crime movie Spring Breakers alongside James Franco, Ashley Benson, and Rachel Korine — and it's safe to say that the movie dealt with topics fans didn't get to see Vanessa explore until then.
6 In 2016 Vanessa Played Betty Rizzo In 'Grease: Live'
In 2016 Vanessa Hudgens could be seen in the television special Grease: Live which was a remake of the 1978 romantic musical Grease. In the special, Vanessa Hudgens portrayed the leader of the Pink Ladies Betty Rizzo — and she starred alongside Aaron Tveit, Julianne Hough, and Carlos PenaVega. Above the stunning actress can be seen rocking that classic Rizzo look!
5 The Former Disney Channel Star Is Also The Lead In Netflix's 'The Princess Switch' Movies
In 2018 the Christmas rom-com The Princess Switch premiered on Netflix and it starred Vanessa Hudgens in not one — but two roles. Yes, as fans know Vanessa portrayed two characters who look identical in the movie, and in its sequel The Princess Switch: Switched Again which was released last year— Vanessa actually portrayed three characters that look the same!
4 Vanessa Is Also No Stranger To Broadway
Besides being well known in Hollywood — Vanessa Hudgens is also no stranger to Broadway. The former Disney Channel star had her Broadway debut in 2012 in The 24 Hour Plays.
However, most people will certainly remember Vanessa for portraying the titular character in the 2015 Broadway musical Gigi. As expected, Vanessa Hudgens did an incredible job — and no one would be surprised to see her back on Broadway one day!
3 In 2020, Vanessa Starred In The Action Movie 'Bad Boys For Life'
Last year the former Disney Channel star could be seen in the action-comedy movie Bad Boys for Life which is the third installment in the Bad Boys franchise. Besides Vanessa Hudgens — who certainly gave a fantastic performance — the movie also stars Will Smith, Martin Lawrence, Paola Núñez, Alexander Ludwig, Charles Melton, Jacob Scipio, Kate del Castillo, Nicky Jam, and Joe Pantoliano.
2 Vanessa Managed To Accumulate A $16 Million Net Worth
Considering that Vanessa Hudgens has been a staple in show business for over a decade — it certainly doesn't come as a surprise that the queen of Coachella outfits managed to accumulate a net worth of $16 million. Considering that Vanessa is still very popular and she gets cast in plenty of blockbusters — there's no doubt that her net worth is bound to only get higher in the future!
1 And Lastly, The Talented Actress Has Over 40 Million Followers On Instagram
Wrapping the list up is the fact that the former High School Musical star has managed to accumulate over 40 million followers on Instagram. Now, it's definitely no secret that followers on social media indicate just how famous one is — and Vanessa can certainly be proud of how many fans she has. On the platform, the star frequently shares amazing outfit inspiration as well as gives her fans an insight into what her day-to-day life looks like!