Issue Date: October 19, 2008
Interview: Ashley Tisdale
"The High School Musical 3" star knows there's life after high school.
By Brian Truitt
Ashley Tisdale, resident mean girl in Disney's monster hit movie series "High School Musical," is moving up in the world -- and out.
With the opening next Friday of "High School Musical 3: Senior Year," Tisdale, 23, officially enters the world of multimillion-dollar Hollywood stars. She earned a reported $2.8 million for HSM3 and recently was No. 94 on the "Forbes" Celebrity 100 power list.
So, Ashley Tisdale, now that you've made the big time, where will you go next? To a new, custom-built (by her construction company-owning dad), 3,500-square-foot Hollywood mini-manse, of course! "It's a very Spanish-style house, and it's all pretty exciting."
Bigger digs and, she hopes, slightly more mature roles, though the young actress, who plays "HSM"'s conniving Sharpay, acknowledges, "I look young for my age, so I'm not going to be able to play a 20-something girl yet."
Tell us: What's the best movie ever set in a high school?
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"HSM3" finds her trying to win a scholarship to Juilliard and still causing trouble for lovebirds Troy (Zac Efron) and Gabriella (Vanessa Hudgens) as the gang nears graduation. We chatted recently.
After two movies, aren't you getting tired of running after Zac Efron?
No! It's fun. He's definitely really cute.
Were high school musicals a part of your real-life teen experience?
My drama teacher in high school did not like me, so I just never would audition for a high school musical. I think she was, like, a frustrated actor or something, and she knew I was an actress. I was always going on auditions or doing jobs in Los Angeles, and the principal and all my other teachers were totally fine with it, except for my drama teacher.
How were your prom dates?
My senior-year date was my best friend, [actress] Kaley Cuoco. That was always the best, to have your girlfriend there. Then you can dance with all different guys and not just "that guy."
Were you the popular girl in high school?
I hung out with the popular crowd sometimes. In seventh grade, when I moved to California, I was the new girl. Nobody knew me. The quad was the cool-kid place, and I remember being like, "I want to make it to the quad one day," and I actually did, and then I was friends with all these people. And I was just like, "Wow -- they really aren't that cool or social. There's nothing awesome about them."
A year ago, you received a lot of negative reaction from your nose job. How does that make you feel about getting other cosmetic surgery?
Well, I'm not planning to. The thing is, the media is so funny: You deny something, and then they talk about it and say certain things about you denying it. And then you come clean like I did, and yet they still have a negative response to it. I had to do it because I couldn't breathe very well, and I had a deviated septum. Why would I lie about something that I'm actually being honest about?
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"High School Musical 3:" The "CliffsNotes" version
The Year
Since its debut in 2006, the "High School Musical" movie series has caught the nation's tweens in a whirlwind of singing, dancing and the occasional math problem. The second TV movie was the most-watched cable telecast ever, with more than 18 million viewers. What can top that? An in-theater version, of course, "High School Musical 3," which opens next Friday.
The Plot
It's senior year, and all the kids are holding their breath to find out where college takes them, if the school's sweetheart couple stays together and who will get the lead in the school musical. Are they (and we) ready to say goodbye?
The Clique
King of the basketball court Troy Bolton, aka Zac Efron, and kind Gabriella Montez (Vanessa Hudgens) are the "It" couple. Trouble comes in the form of the spotlight-loving Evans twins, Sharpay and Ryan, portrayed by Disney Channel fave Ashley Tisdale and Lucas Grabeel.
After Graduation
Say it isn't so! This may be the last time these characters make sweet music together. Efron, who commanded $3 million for the new pic, has left East High behind for 1937 New York in the spring drama Me and Orson Welles. His leading lady on and off the screen, Hudgens has launched a singing career, having just completed a U.S. tour for her sophomore album. Still, no need to freak. Disney writers have already started typing away on "High School Musical 4," which is headed back to TV, for now, in 2009.
-- Samantha Y. Lee
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