Zac Efron Talks Turning '17'

Tags:

Zac Efron,Movies,High School Musical,Vanessa Hudgens

enlarge

1/3

Access Hollywood
Zac Efron on the '17 Again' set
Access Hollywood
Zac Efron on the '17 Again' set
Associated Press

hottest galleries

The Latest Star Sightings
Access the day’s hottest photos!
Isn’t It Bromantic? Hollywood’s Top 10 Bromances!
Find out which Hollywood bros will be friends ‘til the end…
Brad! Demi! Robert! Paris! Hot Shots Of The Stars In Shades
Check out the stars as they step out across the world in their favorite pair of sunglasses!

more galleries

FIRST PUBLISHED: February 8, 2008 4:31 PM EST
LAST UPDATED: February 8, 2008 5:09 PM EST

LOS ANGELES, Calif. --

Zac Efron is used to being the big man on campus as the star of “High School Musical,” but now Zac is graduating to his first starring film role.

But as Access Hollywood’s Billy Bush found out, Zac is not ready to leave “High School” behind just yet.

“How close were you to not doing ‘High School Musical 3?’” Billy asked Zac. “It’s time to be honest with Uncle Bushy. You thought about it!”

“Oh gosh. No, seriously I am not going to be the guy who takes ‘High School Musical’ away from all the fans,” Zac said. “We owe everyone too much. ‘High School Musical’ is a project I hold very close to my heart and I am going to complete the franchise.”

Putting a nation of tween hearts at ease, Zac reaffirmed the notion that he has no plans on leaving the role of “HSM” heartthrob Troy Bolton.

Billy laced up his high tops and hit the court with Zac on the set of his new movie “17 Again,” about an adult (played by Matthew Perry) who suddenly becomes a 17-year-old high school student – and that is where Zac comes in.

“Why did you choose this role?” Billy asked him.

“It would have been really easy to go and play a kid. I could’ve done that in any movie. But playing a 37-year-old guy who is a kid is a little bit more interesting,” Zac explained. “It’s great when you have personal experience playing a character. For instance, ‘High School Musical.’ It was pretty easy. I was playing a high school kid in his first love. Everyone has been there – I had just been there.”

Surely the first love Zac refers to would be his on-screen/off-screen sweetheart Vanessa Hudgens. Now as popular tabloid targets, the couple has already survived Vanessa’s nude photo scandal and it’s no wonder Zac prefers to his private life – private.

“Why don’t you talk about your personal life?” Billy asked.

“I think specifically relationships, it’s sacred ground. That’s something that needs to be between two people. Everyone else can get their noses out,” Zac smiled.

Keep your Access to everything in Hollywood! Breaking news and personal commentary from Nancy, Billy, Tony, Shaun, Maria & all of our producers! Follow us on Facebook and Twitter now!