“If you’d have asked me when I was auditioning for High School Musical if I ever thought I was going to play a Marine.”

For me as an actor, there’s only so many things I can do, and this is a way, through a film, to teach and hopefully get the message out to young kids.

I watched those movies over and over when I was younger and the music is ingrained into my head. Nowadays, I’m still humming the tunes. It taught me the fundamentals.

I was influenced when I was younger by the cartoon movies that Disney put out, like Cinderella and what not.

So singing on stage, you just inevitably, when you’re around other vocal artists, you get better at singing.

Little Zac had it easy – but he didn’t realize he had it easy, so he took it for granted.

I wish I could say I see my little brother more.

High School Musical is what got me here today and I’m very grateful – but the fame part isn’t so fun.

I hate when I hear bad things about him, because anyone who knows him would agree that he’s a good guy and really humble.

I don’t think music is done by any means. I would love to do it again but it’s finding the right thing.

I connect with people on a daily basis.

I bought an electric scooter in sixth grade. Bankrupted me.

Every day is a new experience and I take it as it comes.

My mom is the No. 1 person who has taught me to be courteous towards women.

It’s hard to film underwater. It really is tricky.

Amanda Bynes and I have become close since filming ‘Hairspray.’ It’s so weird because I grew up watching her.

Every time you make a movie you have to confront your fears.

When I am not auditioning or meeting people, I teach myself dance.

In L.A., I’m twice the size – height and everything else – of most of the other actresses who are going for an audition.

I was not a girl who grew up buying $100 candles. I was the girl who ran out of gas on her way to an audition.

My mother often says that she could never have done it if I had been the youngest, if she had other small children she had to cart around New York City for my auditions and go-sees (modeling auditions) and stuff.

I’m proud of everything I achieved with ‘Idol,’ and away from ‘Idol’ also. It’s just such a different show now to what it was when I was on it. I didn’t even know it was a TV show until the third audition.

I’m down to act a little bit – go on a couple auditions or make one of those three-second cameos with one line.

I auditioned for quite a lot of films. I do not wish to name the films I auditioned for. There were times when I knew I would not be fit for this film, or I would not get this film. Still, I used to audition for it just to get experience… to practice.

After graduating, I began auditioning for films while continuing to model. I did a few fashion shows, ad shoots, and even got a few Bollywood offers, but nothing great.