• Faith: Christian - Catholic
• Career: Actress
• Birthday:  December 14, 1988

Vanessa Hudgens is a singer and actress. After making her feature film debut in 2003’s “Thirteen,” Hudgens rose to fame playing Gabriella Montez in the “High School Musical” film series, which brought her significant mainstream media success. The success of the first movie led Hudgens to acquire a recording contract with Hollywood Records, with whom she released two studio albums, “V” and “Identified.”

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,” “Beastly,” “Sucker Punch,” “Bad Boys For Life,” and “Tick, Tick…Boom!” Hudgens starred in the Netflix Christmas movies “The Princess Switch,” its sequels, and “The Knight Before Christmas,” co-producing the latter three. She played the role of Emily Locke in the NBC series “Powerless” and made her Broadway debut playing the title role in the musical revival of “Gigi.”

Hudgens also had roles in two of Fox’s live musical productions: Rizzo in “Grease Live!” and Maureen Johnson in “Rent: Live.” She also co-hosted the Met Gala. Hudgens was born in California and was raised along the West Coast, from Oregon to Southern California. Her father, Gregory, died of cancer in February 2016, and all of her grandparents were musicians. Starting in 1998, Hudgens performed in musical theater as a singer and appeared in local productions of “The Wizard of Oz,” “Carousel,” “The Music Man,” and “The King and I.” Two years after her career in stage plays and musicals, she started auditioning for television shows and commercials.

Her family moved to Los Angeles after she won a role in a television commercial. Her acting career started when she was 15. She briefly attended Orange County High School of the Arts, followed by homeschooling with tutors. Hudgens had her first acting role in an episode of the sitcom “Still Standing,” airing on CBS in 2002. Later that year, she guest starred in an episode of the series “Robbery Homicide Division,” also airing on CBS. She made her theatrical debut in the 2003 film “Thirteen,” in the supporting role of Noel. The movie, which revolved around teenager Tracy trying to fit in and getting caught up in the wrong crowd, was somewhat of a commercial success, grossing $10 million worldwide.

Hudgens subsequently landed a role in the 2004 science-fiction movie “Thunderbirds,” based on the 1960s television series. She played the character Tin-tin, and the film was a commercial failure and strongly criticized for “abandoning the original concepts.”

What religion is Vanessa Hudgens?

Hudgens was raised Catholic but now identifies as a non-denominational Christian. She said her faith was renewed when her father battled stage four cancer and credited her then-boyfriend, Austin Bulter, for renewing her faith. The two attended church together. After her father’s death, Hudgens said, "There are highs and there are lows. It sucks, but death happens. It never makes it easier, but it happens to all of us. It's just something we have to get through until we all meet again in heaven."