Just like kindergarten! High School Musical’s love story between Troy Bolton and Gabriella Montez sparked an offscreen romance for the actors who played them.
Zac Efron and Vanessa Hudgens, who portrayed Troy and Gabriella in the 2008 DCOM, notably started dating shortly after filming the first movie. They called it quits two years later.
“We got lucky because we started off together, so I think people like us because they fell in love with the characters,” the Spring Breakers actress told Glamour during a June 2010 interview of her then-boyfriend. “Right off the bat, we had a connection. I think everybody could see it. When we had our audition, they paired us together. And he was adorable. I mean, he wasn’t the guy that he is today. Like, he had a gap in his teeth.”
She added: “I think that we inspire each other. [I love] having someone to grow with. … Every relationship’s all about trust.”
The That Awkward Moment star and Hudgens eventually went their separate ways in December 2010. The Beastly actress went on to date Austin Butler and Cole Tucker, while Efron has been linked to Lily Collins, Sami Miró, Sarah Bro, Halston Sage and Vanessa Valladares.
Ashley Tisdale, for her part, found love with Christopher French, whom she wed in 2018. As the former Masked Dancer judge and the composer settled into married life, they avoided reliving her turn as Sharpay Evans in HSM, High School Musical 2 and High School Musical 3: Senior Year.
“I don’t watch that stuff myself and my husband really hasn’t seen that stuff either. If [our daughter is] watching with her friends one day, I might come across it. But I don’t think I would expose her to that stuff. I don’t know,” Tisdale exclusively told Us Weekly in March 2021, referring to the pair’s first child, Jupiter, who was born later that month. “Maybe when the time comes, it will be different. I want her to be really grounded and hopefully live somewhat of a normal life.”
The Frenshe founder previously forced her spouse to watch the summer-inspired sequel for the first time in December 2019.
“Does anybody know what this is? Because I’m subjecting my husband to watch it,” she captioned Instagram footage of the pair at the time. “He’s never seen any of them.”
When Tisdale asked the musician whether he’d date her famed character back in high school, he admitted, “Probably not.”
“Not your cup of tea? You were doing some other crazy stuff in high school,” the Suite Life of Zack and Cody alum responded. “Lame. He wasn’t cool enough.”
Scroll below for more on the High School Musical cast’s dating history through the years:
The Down to Earth alum dated Hudgens from 2006 to 2010, earning their “Zanessa” couple name. Following their split, Efron was linked to Alexandra Daddario, Collins, Michelle Rodriguez, businesswoman Miró and Valladares. The actor connected with the model in June 2020 during his trip to Australia, with a source telling Us that the twosome were “very smitten with each other.” The pair eventually split in April 2021. Gregory Pace/Shutterstock
After Efron, the Princess Switch star briefly dated Josh Hutcherson and Kyle Kuzma before her nine-year romance with Butler. Hudgens and the Elvis star split in January 2020. Several months later, she was spotted with the Pittsburgh Pirates athlete. MediaPunch/Shutterstock
Similar to her HSM costars, Tisdale sparked on-set romance with Jared Murillo, a backup dancer on the project. After dating for two years, the pair called it quits in 2009. The Carol’s Second Act alum was later linked to Scott Speer and Boys Like Girls’ Martin Johnson before meeting French. Tisdale and her now-husband were set up by mutual friends in 2012, nearly eight months before they got engaged. They welcomed daughter Jupiter in March 2021. AFF-USA/Shutterstock
The Missouri native — who played Sharpay’s twin brother, Ryan — has kept his romantic relationships relatively private. The Switched at Birth alum previously dated Emily Morris starting in 2005 before eventually moving on with teacher Sammie Kate in 2020 though rarely posted about either partner. AFF-USA/Shutterstock
The High School Musical: The Musical: The Series star, who played Chad Danforth in the OG films, previously dated Jamie Murray and Maiara Walsh before finding love with actress Sasha Clements. Us confirmed in July 2016 that the A Christmas Dance Reunion star and Clements tied the knot nearly two years after their Disney World proposal. Chris Pizzello/Invision/AP/Shutterstock
Coleman, who is best known for her role as brainiac Taylor McKessie in HSM, married longtime love Walter Jordan in a 2010 ceremony in Thailand. Chelsea Lauren/Shutterstock
The Russia native, who played pianist Kelsi in the DCOM flicks, has been relatively tight-lipped about her love life after being linked to Younger’s Nico Tortorella and Andrew Gray McDonnell. The Greek alum wed The Laundry Room founder Joseph Noel Pauline in February 2022, shortly before the pair announced they were expecting their first child together. Chelsea Lauren/Shutterstock
Stroh married Ben Higginson in January 2009, three years after she rose to fame playing brainiac Martha in the musical. The twosome welcomed daughters Zetta and Lettie in 2013 and 2015, respectively. Taylor Jewell/Invision/AP/Shutterstock
Johnson, who portrayed Troy’s dad in the flicks, married actress Robyn Lively in September 1999. They share sons Baylen and Wyatt and daughter Kate. Eric Charbonneau/Invision/AP/Shutterstock
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