Zac Efron and Vanessa Hudgens' Relationship Timeline

Mar. 15, 2025

Photo: Jordan Strauss/WireImage

It was love at first audition forZac EfronandVanessa Hudgens.

After their chemistry landed them starring roles in theHigh School Musicalfranchise, Efron and Hudgens immediately became inseparable. The couple fell in love on the first film’s set — and when the Disney Channel flick premiered in 2006, they instantly became teen icons. Their relationship blossomed as millions of fans watched their every move and plastered posters up on their bedroom walls.

“We grew up together. It was nice to have someone to share all of those experiences with,“Hudgens saidfollowing their split.

From theirHigh School Musicalauditions to their long-distance romance, here’s everything to know about Zac Efron and Vanessa Hudgens' relationship.

Early 2005: Zac Efron and Vanessa Hudgens meet while auditioning forHigh School Musical

Michael Tran/FilmMagic

In 2005, Efron and Hudgens met for the first time when they auditioned for High School Musical. Looking back on the moment, Efron later said Hudgens was the first person he got paired with — and that theirchemistry was apparentto everyone in the casting room.

“For all of the partner things, me and Vanessa always got paired up,” he recalled. “I was like, ‘They’re not trying us with other people.’ For some reason we kept sticking around [for callbacks]. I don’t know what it was with Vanessa, but we kind of clicked from the very beginning.”

2005: Vanessa Hudgens and Zac Efron begin dating during filming

Although Hudgens and Efron have never revealed exactly when their relationship turned romantic, Hudgens said it was at the “very beginning” of theirHigh School Musicalexperience. She later explained that they both agreed to be all in from the very start.

“We created a bond right from the start. We were like, ‘We’re doing this, it’s us or nothing,'“Hudgens shared.

October 9, 2005: Vanessa Hudgens and Zac Efron attend their first event together

Michael Bezjian/WireImage

January 20, 2006: The firstHigh School Musicalmovie premieres on Disney Channel

2006: Zac Efron and Vanessa Hudgens couple up to promote their movie

Denise Truscello/WireImage

Early 2007: Zac Efron and Vanessa Hudgens spend quality time together in Los Angeles

After over a year of dating, Efron and Hudgens were still going strong, often being spotted hanging out in L.A. together. The coupleopted for a more low-key life, hitting the gym, hanging out with costars and making stops for frozen yogurt at Pinkberry. Their castmate Bart Johnson, who played Efron’s on-screen dad, said he often saw the couple hanging out in Efron’s neighborhood.

“Vanessa had a scooter and she’d pull Zac around on his skateboard with a rope. He’d surf behind her all the way around Toluca Lake,“Johnson told PEOPLE.

March 19, 2007: Vanessa Hudgens confirms her relationship with Zac Efron in her “Say Ok” music video

Kevin Winter/Getty

When Hudgens filmed a music video for her single “Say Ok,” she recruited Efron to play her love interest. In the video, Efron and some friends meet up with Hudgens at a bowling alley before the couple branches off to take a drive to the beach.

At the time, Efron and Hudgens had still not publicly confirmed their relationship, but following the debut of the video, Hudgens’ reptold AOL Musicit was the duo’s official “coming out” as a couple.

June 2007: Zac Efron and Vanessa Hudgens begin wearing matching rings

In June, the couple was seenwearing matching silver ringson their right index fingers that were reportedly engraved with each other’s names. Fans immediately began to speculate that they were promise rings, and when Efron was later asked about the jewelry, he remained coy with his answer.

“This is just a ring from a friend that I got. It’s a female friend, but I can’t say who because then it would be chat-room pandemonium and teen-magazine hysteria,” Efron told Rolling Stone.

August 2007: Vanessa Hudgens makes a rare comment about her relationship with Zac Efron

Jeff Kravitz/FilmMagic

While the couple generally kept the details of their relationship extremely private, Hudgens couldn’t help but gush about Efron at the L.A. premiere ofHigh School Musical 2.

“He’s an amazing guy,“Hudgens simply told PEOPLE.

August 9, 2007: Zac Efron calls Vanessa Hudgens a “very sexy woman”

Not long after Hudgens' loving comment about her boyfriend, Efron offered his own thoughts about their relationship. While speaking with Rolling Stone, the actor shared what he found most surprising about Hudgens.

“The weird thing that no one expected about Vanessa is that underneath such a sweet girl … is a very sexy woman,” Efron told the outlet.

January 5, 2008: Vanessa Hudgens and Zac Efron show some PDA on the red carpet

Gregg DeGuire/WireImage

While Hudgens and Efron had walked plenty of red carpets together in the past, the Palm Springs Film Festival marked one of the first times the couple showed PDA at a public event. Efron sweetly whispered something in Hudgens’s ear while they smiled and posed for the cameras.

June 25, 2008: Vanessa Hudgens shares her secret to a successful relationship

In June, Hudgens dished her secret to a great relationship with Cosmo Girl!

“If you really love someone, you shouldn’t have to work at it. You finish each others' sentences and have the same sense of humor,” she shared.

October 24, 2008: Vanessa Hudgens says Zac Efron is a good kisser

K Mazur/TCA 2008/WireImage

October 2008: Zac Efron and Vanessa Hudgens attend a wedding in Hawaii

Later that month, Efron and Hudgens jetted to Hawaii to attend the wedding of Efron’s manager, Jason Barrett. During their trip, the couple were spottedtaking a romantic walk on the beachwhile a shirtless Efron bared his fit physique.

Early 2009: Zac Efron and Vanessa Hudgens attend the Golden Globes and Oscars

Jeff Vespa/WireImage

In January and February 2009, Efron and Hudgens stepped out for a few joint appearances, hitting the red carpet at both the Golden Globes andthe Oscars. The couple also later attended theVanity Fairafterparty post-ceremony.

July 14, 2009: Vanessa Hudgens shuts down rumors she’s engaged to Zac Efron

“I think [marriage and starting a family] is great but I’m so focused on my career right now that it doesn’t really cross my mind,“Hudgens told PEOPLE.

December 14, 2009: Vanessa Hudgens celebrates her 21st birthday with Zac Efron

“Zac and Vanessa were adorable together. They were smiling at each other and laughing and are really sweet to each other. Great couple,” a guest told PEOPLE.

July 27, 2010: Vanessa Hudgens opens up about how her relationship with Zac Efron has changed over the years

Noel Vasquez/Getty

Reflecting on the couple’s relationship,Hudgens' commentedon how much they had changed over the past few years. She joked that Efron no longer had a gap in his teeth like when they first met, and said their relationship had definitely matured.

“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 … [He’s] just grown-up. He doesn’t have his gap anymore. I look at him, and I see a man. I think that we inspire each other. [I love] having someone to grow with,” Hudgens shared.

August 2010: Zac Efron reveals he’s questioned if he should be single

In a candid interview with Details, Efron opened up about being in a long-term relationship while in the spotlight. When asked if he had ever considered living the single life, Efron admitted that many of his friends had encouraged him to play the field.

“Yeah, everyone tells me that. I think a lot of guys would enjoy that. But I’m not really like that … I rack my brain thinking, ‘Why am I not out there playing the field?’ One of my buddies was like, ‘You have no idea what’s going on right now.’ … But it’s not in my heart,” he shared.

Efron was also asked about the validity of his relationship with Hudgens or if it was purely for PR, to which he said the concept of a fake relationship was “f–king insane.” He also noted that if the couple had been faking things, they would have called “it off a long time ago.”

August 17, 2010: Zac Efron and Vanessa Hudgens attend their final event together

Bruce Glikas/FilmMagic

In August, Efron and Hudgens stepped out for their final public event before calling it quits. The couple were spotted attending a performance ofMemphison Broadway, where they posed for a photo with the cast backstage.

December 13, 2010: Zac Efron and Vanessa Hudgens officially break up

Several months after their final public appearance, it was confirmed thatEfron and Hudgens had called it quitsafter over four years of dating. At the time, the reason for their breakup wasn’t revealed, although a source toldPEOPLE"they are 100 percent still good friends.”

Late December 2010: Vanessa Hudgens says she will remain friends with Zac Efron

Alexandra Wyman/WireImage

Shortly after the split, Hudgens chatted with Details about the separation, admitting that the future was still open-ended for the couple. While the article wasn’t shared until March, the conversation took place just weeks after Hudgens and Efron’s split.

“We’re still friends. Who knows what the future will bring. We’re figuring things out,” Hudgens said.

March 2011: Vanessa Hudgens admits long distance was difficult for the couple

Several months after the couple went their separate ways, Hudgens opened up about their relationship, explaining its positive impact on her life. She shared that the relationship had “kept [her] grounded” and encouraged her to be her true self. Unfortunately, Hudgens said long distance proved to be too difficult for the couple, who were both shooting separate projects when they split.

“Long-distance relationships are hard no matter what. When you don’t have face-to-face time, it’s just different. Having an iPhone helped, but it just wasn’t the same,” she said.

April 30, 2014: Zac Efron says he’s no longer in touch with Vanessa Hudgens

Over three years after their split, Efron revealed that he was no longer in close touch with Hudgens, although he had nothing but nice things to say about his former flame.

“She was a really interesting, sweet person,” Efron toldThe Hollywood Reporter.

March 31, 2015: Vanessa Hudgens opens up about feeling jealousy in her relationship with Zac Efron

Looking back on her relationship with Efron, Hudgens admitted that being in the spotlight could sometimes be difficult. She admitted that she sometimesstruggled with jealousywhen Efron attracted a lot of attention from female fans.

“I went through a phase when I was really mean because I was so fed up. Girls were running after him, and I was giving them death stares. Then I realized that’s not what that’s about,” Hudgens told theNew York Times.

March 2017: Vanessa Hudgens says she’s lost contact with Zac Efron

In 2017, Hudgens confirmed that she and Efron were still not in contact. When jokingly asked if the former couple still karaoke together like their characters inHigh School Musical, she said that it definitely doesn’t happen anymore.

“Oh, yeah, no … That’s not a thing that happens. I completely lost contact with him,“Hudgens shared.

April 22, 2019: Vanessa Hudgens expresses her gratitude for Zac Efron

Jon Kopaloff/FilmMagic

Despite the fact that Hudgens was no longer in touch with Efron, she admitted she wasgrateful for the relationship, especially because it occurred during such a crazy time in her life.

January 3, 2020: Vanessa Hudgens says she hasn’t “seen him or spoken to” Zac Efron in years

In early 2020, Hudgens admitted she hadn’t “seen or spoken to [Efron] in years.” While they were no longer in contact, Hudgens said she still had the T necklace his character Troy gave Gabriella in the first movie.

“I feel like I need to sell it for charity because it’s literally sitting in a little bag rusting!” Hudgens toldCosmopolitan.

April 2020: Zac Efron and Vanessa Hudgens reunite for a singalong special

The former couple virtually reunited forThe Disney Family Singalongspecial amid the COVID-19 pandemic. While Efron did not perform with hisHigh School Musicalcostars, he introduced a group that included Hudgens, Tisdale, Bleu, Monique Coleman and Lucas Grabeel. The Disney alums then performed the musical’s hit song, “We’re All in This Together,” from their respective homes.

January 9, 2021: Vanessa Hudgens shares a meme featuring Zac Efron

Hudgens sentHigh School Musicalfans into a frenzy in 2021 when she shared a meme featuring Efron. In the photos from the film, Troy could be seen putting his initial necklace around Gabriella’s neck. In the caption, Gabriella asked Troy if the necklace stood for “T as in Troy?” His response was changed from the movie’s script to instead say, “No Gabriella, T as in Trump’s Twitter is suspended,” referencing the social media platform’s ban of the former president.

Summer 2022: Vanessa Hudgens and Zac Efron return to the place where their romance began

Over 15 years after the former couple first met, Hudgensreturned to the placewhere she and Efron fell in love. In a cute clip filmed in front of the real-life Salt Lake City school where the movies were filmed, Hudgens posed for the camera while “Breaking Free” played in the background.

The following month, Efron followed suit and also shared aphotoof himselfstanding in front of the school. “Don’t you… Forget about me,” he captioned the post, which sent fans into a frenzy theorizing about a potentialHigh School Musicalreunion.

September 12, 2022: Vanessa Hudgens talks about her “life-changing” relationships

“The public only sees so much. I’ve also been through two very long life-changing relationships, and no one really knows what happened except for me,” the actress shared. “When I write my memoir, it’ll be amazing.”

September 24, 2024:High School Musicalcast and crew recall Vanessa Hudgens and Zac Efron’s relationship in new book

Steve Granitz/FilmMagic; Steve Granitz/FilmMagic)

“He was the sun and moon to her,” actor Lucas Grabeel told the author, adding, “Poor girl.”

Meanwhile, choreographer Chucky Klapow shared details from a conversation with Efron shortly before the actor broke up with his girlfriend back home.

“I don’t know what to do, man. Vanessa is super into me, and I have feelings for her, too. I don’t want to do the wrong thing with my girlfriend. But I also don’t want to shut Vanessa down and ruin the chemistry in the movie,” Klapow recalled Efron saying to him.

source: people.com