Vanessa Hudgens: Method Actor?

Vanessa Hudgens is slowly convincing me to watch her new movie. Is anyone else having a similar experience? It's just that I keep hearing more and more about her latest starring role and even thought I've never seen her in a film before, I'm starting to get intrigued. Vanessa Hudgens recently spoke with E! News about her role in Gimme Shelter and her experience sounds a lot more intense than I'd expect from someone who is best know for the High School Musical movies. Can you tell I pre-judged her acting? See, this is why I want to see the movie!

Hudgens' said of getting into character, "I put on 15 pounds, ate whatever I wanted. I'm not complaining. I cut off all my hair, which really set the tone. It was such a liberating thing and kinda reminded me—if I can do that, I can do this." She definitely looks different when in character as Apple, a pregnant teenager who tracks down her birth father, but it sounds like the role effected Hudgens deeper than her appearance.

"I think I unconsciously stayed in character the entire time that we were filming, so as soon as we were done, I didn't know how to act anymore, because I was so used to playing Apple ... My best friend tells me all the time how she was so concerned about me, because, she, for the first time, looked into my eyes and she didn't see me. She saw someone who was really broken down and had very low self-esteem. So it took a lot of work."

Maybe it is wrong to be surprised to hear this, but I'd just never heard Vanessa Hudgens speak about her acting in such a serious way and I'd also never really heard anyone else speak of her acting in such a serious way. The trailer for Gimme Shelter , which co-stars Rosario Dawson and Brendan Fraser as Apple's biological parents, doesn't make the film itself look that great, but Hudgens legitimately looks like she might do a great job in her role. I'm curious to see how she does.

Gimme Shelter will be released in theaters Jan. 24.

Image: Roadside Attractions