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This 'American Dream' theory can also be linked to his issues with addiction, as he became successful from a young age yet still faced the reality of loneliness, pressure and stress.

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Following his battle with addictions, Zac features in The Hollywood Reporter, with the cover reading: 'A-list and in A.A.'

In the interview, he states: "When you have success young, and you accept the good things, you have to accept all of it. You have to accept the moments of glory but also a great responsibility. And that responsibility, to some degree, involves being a role model. At the same time, I’m a human being, and I’ve made a lot of mistakes. I’ve learned from each one."

This shows his vulnerability and allows us to see his is not reckless, he understands his mistakes and is willing to move on and get better.

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In this article, Efron is praised for reaching just '5% body fat after 12 weeks of training.' At the time, it seemed positive as he just wanted to prepare for the role, but there are multiple moments where the actor has condemned the way he reached the figure.

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On a cover for Rolling Stone (2007), Zac was reinforced as a romantic, cheeky, 'heartthrob' in his real life instead of just in his role of Troy Bolton. The unnatural lifting of his shirt gives audiences a flash of his muscular build, but he still appears as friendly and approachable through his bright smile.

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Fans on: Efron's body dismorphia and eating disorder

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Fans on: Efron's body dismorphia and eating disorder

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People began mocking Efron's appearance due to the change in his jaw, hair and body changing. Fans were outraged to see these comments online, especially after he had made multiple claims against the image.

One fan commented: “Please be aware of the fact that Zac Efron has struggled with an eating disorder and body dysmorphia. Wanting to have fun on the internet isn’t an excuse to drag someone through the floor over a private aspect of his life that has affected him so deeply.”

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Dyer claims 'stardom can be seen as a version of the American Dream' (p.35). This can be applied as true in this case, as Efron portrays himself to live a luxury life through his love of travel and adventure, which will be uncommon to 'normal' people.

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Fans were heartbroken when the Disney duo called it quits after their 5 year relationship. Years later, Hudgens claimed she was grateful for the relationship and it ended completely amicably.

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Vanessa Hudgens Opened Up About Her Breakup with Zac Efron & How a Fight Almost Cancelled 'High School Musical'

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Why did Zac Efron and Vanessa Hudgens break up? The Zanessa split reason is over the pressure of "High School Musical" and their fame from the Disney Channel movies, Hudgens revealed that Efron and her fought on "High School Musical 3", which almost led the movie to be cancelled.

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Zac and Vanessa caught in an 'adult store' (2008)

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Zac and Vanessa caught in an 'adult store' (2008)

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Efron and Hudgens were caught out by a fan in 2008, shopping in a store for adult items together. This was largely controversial to their Disney image - yet the pair seemed to not want to come across as rude, so still had photos with the fan. His facial expression shows clear embarrassment and probably some level of stress as they most likely got in trouble with their management as faces of Disney Channel.

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Fans on: 'Zanessa' Rekindling, years later

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Fans on: 'Zanessa' Rekindling, years later

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When Vanessa Hudgens split from long-term boyfriend of 9 years Austin Butler, fans jumped onto social media to try and rekindle the romance for the High School Musical pair.

One fan commented: "so what you’re saying is both Zac Efron and Vanessa Hudgens are currently single?? some see this as devastating but HSM stans can only see an opportunity"

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Vanessa Hudgens' fans really want her to get back with Zac Efron now that she's officially split from longtime boyfriend Austin Butler. Twitter is calling on the "High School Musical" co-stars, and one time lovers, to reunite after more than 9 years apart following news that the 31-year-old actress is single for the first time in nearly a decade! Vanessa Hudgens famously dated Zac Efron before Austin Butler for 5 years. They were together from 2005-2010 before ending things. She started dating Butler one year later.
Related: Vanessa Hudgens Has Legs For Days On First Red Carpet After Austin Butler Split Vanessa Hudgens & Austin Butler's 9-Year Relationship Has Come To An End Vanessa Hudgens Splits From Austin Butler After 9 Years of Dating! Vanessa Hudgens Reflects On Being the Victim of Nude Photo Leaks Over the Years Vanessa Hudgens Thinks She'd Be the Purr-fect Catwoman for New 'Batman' Film
Twitter's Playing Matchmaker:

Fans on Twitter are desperately trying to play matchmaker and they are calling on the "Baywatch" hunk to "come get your woman" after Us Weekly ran a story on Tuesday that Vanessa Hudgens and Austin Butler broke up. While there seems to be mixed reactions, most fans are hoping for an epic reunion between the former duo. Within hours after the story broke, their old celebrity couple name, Zanessa, began trending on the social media giant.

Remember Zanessa?!

"Me finding out Vanessa Hudgens and Austin Butler broke up, but then realizing this is Zac Efron's chance to revive Zanessa," one fan wrote. "Vanessa Hudgens and Austin Butler broke up ZANESSA IS BACK ON, GO ON AHEAD ZAC EFRON, she's free now🤗," shared another. "so what you're saying is both Zac Efron and Vanessa Hudgens are currently single?? some see this as devastating but HSM stans can only see an opportunity," posted a third fan. They aren't stopping anytime soon either.

'Come Get Your Woman!'

"Vanessa Hudgens is single for the fist time in nearly 9 years & I hope she's ok," a fan shared. "That being said, I hope Zac Efron does what needs to be done & that's all I'll say about that!" Another person instructed the star, "come get your woman!" According to Us Weekly, Vanessa Hudgens has been telling close friends about her split with Austin Butler so she doesn't seem too broken up about it. In fact, the last time Butler made an appearance on Hudgens Instagram was in October.

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Vanessa Hudgens' Fans Tell Zac Efron 'Come Get Your Woman' After Austin Butler Breakup

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Fans want Vanessa Hudgens and Zac Efron to reunite on the heels of her breakup.

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In Firestarter (2022), Efron plays a dad and the reaction from fans was mostly the same: asking where did the time go from his teenage musical self to now.

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Efron started facing scrutiny on his appearance from 2020 when fans noticed a change in his appearance. He seemed to have had botox in his jaw, giving him a wider-set face. He revealed this happened due to jaw surgery following an injury, which caused facial swelling.

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Zac Efron told Men's Health that he had a jaw injury, and recovery changed the shape of his face.

An online photo in April 2021 prompted viral controversy that the actor had plastic surgery.

Efron said specific chewing muscles around his jaw got bigger as a result of the injury.

Zac Efron addressed speculation about possible plastic surgery in an interview with Men's Health, saying that changes to his face shape were related to a jaw injury and subsequent physical therapy.

Efron went viral in April 2021 after appearing in an Earth Day special with scientist Bill Nye. Images from the event prompted intense online discourse dubbed "Jaw-Gate" in which people speculated about whether Efron had gotten Botox, fillers or implants, another cosmetic procedure, or even dental surgery.

The actor told Men's Health he was running through his house wearing socks and slipped, colliding with a granite fountain that broke his jaw. He said that while he worked with a physical therapy specialist to recover, some of the muscles of his face and jaw had to work harder in response to the injury.

He said it specifically affected muscles involved in chewing called the masseters, which are located on the side of the face from the cheekbone to the lower jaw.

"The masseters just grew," he said. "They just got really, really big."

Efron said he wasn't aware of the online speculation about his face until his mom called him to ask if he had plastic surgery. He told Men's Health that since his "High School Musical" stardom at age 17, he's tried to avoid social media except when promoting specific projects.

"If I valued what other people thought of me to the extent that they may think I do, I definitely wouldn't be able to do this work," he said.

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Zac Efron addressed the 'Jaw-gate' speculation that he had plastic surgery, saying he shattered his jaw and 'the masseters just grew'

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Zac Efron said a jaw injury caused the muscles of his face to grow bigger, prompting the 'Jaw-gate' speculation he had plastic surgery in April 2021.

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Promotional clips of his upcoming film 'The Iron Claw', premiering December 2023, have caused speculation that it was not just a jaw-shattering injury, and the star is having plastic surgery, which he has always categorically denied.

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Zac Efron's new look sparks fans' concerns: 'What happened to his face?'

Zac Efron is infamous for going to great lengths to transform himself for his character. In the upcoming film, The Iron Claw, he just does this again, leaving fans in shock.

Appearing on the Entertainment Weekly's cover, the Disney star looked unrecognizable with his unavoidable pectoral muscles speaking for themselves.

However, what got the internet's attention was his uneven jawline.

The Post assorted the following comments

"What happened to his face?", one user commented.

Another added, "[He] looks like Prince Farquhar in Shrek."

"Damn his face doesn't even move now," a third wrote.

Shrek' live action? Omg," someone else shared.

Zac's completely changed jawline answer may be found in his previous interview with People.

Dismissing the rumours of having plastic surgery, the star told the outlet last year that his jaw was broken in 2013, thus the enlargement.

"They just got really, really big," he said.

Meanwhile, discussing his new A24 biopic, the 36-year-old played the 1960s veteran wrestler Kevin Von Erick.

To hone the shape of the legendary performer, he told Men's Health, "I started intermittent fasting just after I stopped being vegan," noting, "My body wasn't processing the vegetables in the right way."

He continued, "So, I decided to stop it and try something new," adding, "Intermittent fasting has been really helpful with that."

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Zac Efron's new look sparks fans' concerns: 'What happened to his face?'

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Fans share concerns for Zac Efron following his new transformation for his upcoming film

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Back to acting, Efron stars in a screen-adaptation of the Stephen King novel of the same name. It was first released as a film in 1984 with Drew Barrymore and was widely regarded as one of the worst King adaptations. Critics also don't like the 2022 version, not due to Efron's performance but because of lacklustre writing.

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Zac Efron is a great actor but an annoying career trend that continued with is holding him back. In Firestarter, Efron stars as Andy McGee, the father of a girl who can create and control fire with her mind. Although Zac Efron's performance has been praised, the adaptation of Stephen King's novel has received largely negative reviews, which continues a frustrating pattern in his career.

Zac Efron's breakthrough role came in Disney's High School Musical, and he then went on to star in several teen movies, including 17 Again and In the 2010s, Efron took on more varied roles where he proved his knack for comedy, and his portrayal of Ted Bundy in Extremely Wicked, Shockingly Evil and Vile demonstrated that he could play serious characters just as well. The 34-year-old has covered nearly every genre in his career already, and now there are calls for Zac Efron to appear in the MCU. Efron's career to date, though, has been plagued by an annoying trend.

Related: Zac Efron's Career Evolution, From High School Musical To Ted Bundy

Zac Efron's talents are so often squandered in the sub-par movies he has starred in, and Firestarter continues his habit of picking bad projects. Although he gives a good performance in Firestarter, not even his star quality is able to save the movie, which wastes its interesting premise. Efron has starred in excellent films which have enabled him to showcase his range, including his self-aware comedic performance in and his co-starring role with Hugh Jackman in The Greatest Showman. But his great roles are constantly undermined by the poor movies he subsequently finds himself in.

Almost every Zac Efron hit is soon followed by a disappointing miss. His co-starring role in alongside the box-office heavyweight Dwayne Johnson was critically panned, and his double act with Robert De Niro in Dirty Grandpa was named the worst film ever made by various critics. The failure of these sorts of films is generally not because of the acting ability of Zac Efron or his fellow castmates; it is almost always down to bad writing.

Efron has been in Hollywood for nearly two decades now and shouldn't need to settle for underwhelming scripts. In 2020, he branched out to create the travel documentary Down to Earth with Zac Efron, where his passion for nature and sustainability were clear to see. That sort of passion needs to be reflected in the movies Efron chooses to star in, or else he is at risk of losing credibility in the industry. The actor's future still looks promising, and some are already suggesting that Zac Efron's first Oscar nomination will come from his role in The Greatest Beer Run Ever. Zac Efron has proven that he is a reliable actor who can elevate his films. Still, going forward, he needs to be more selective about the movies he stars in to break his frustrating career trend of hits and misses, which continued with Firestarter.

More: Everything The Firestarter Remake Changed From The Stephen King Book

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Firestarter Continues An Annoying Zac Efron Career Trend

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Zac Efron is a proven star who has given great performances since breaking through in 2006, but his career has been stifled by a frustrating trend.

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Similarly, he shows support for the recent Hollywood strikes, which were influenced by the International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees to ensure big media corporations treat actors, writers and everyone behind the scenes with respect and fair pay.

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Let’s fix this so we can keep making beautiful movies together. Love you guys, I stand with you. #IATSESolidarity

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Let’s fix this so we can keep making beautiful movies together. Love you guys, I stand with you. #IATSESolidarity https://t.co/lVHzbKdBxu

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Let’s fix this so we can keep making beautiful movies together. Love you guys, I stand with you. #IATSESolidarity pic.twitter.com/lVHzbKdBxu
— Zac Efron (@ZacEfron) September 25, 2021

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Let’s fix this so we can keep making beautiful movies together. Love you guys, I stand with you. #IATSESolidarity https://t.co/lVHzbKdBxu

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Let’s fix this so we can keep making beautiful movies together. Love you guys, I stand with you. #IATSESolidarity https://t.co/lVHzbKdBxu

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Let’s fix this so we can keep making beautiful movies together. Love you guys, I stand with you. #IATSESolidarity

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He has similarly used his platforms to advocate for political and social causes. Here, he tweets his support for gun reform.

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I’m so inspired today by our future leaders. I stand with you.  #MarchForOurLives

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I’m so inspired today by our future leaders. I stand with you.  #MarchForOurLives https://t.co/VX6SV3Kr6K

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I’m so inspired today by our future leaders. I stand with you. #MarchForOurLives pic.twitter.com/VX6SV3Kr6K
— Zac Efron (@ZacEfron) March 24, 2018

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I’m so inspired today by our future leaders. I stand with you.  #MarchForOurLives https://t.co/VX6SV3Kr6K

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I’m so inspired today by our future leaders. I stand with you.  #MarchForOurLives https://t.co/VX6SV3Kr6K

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I’m so inspired today by our future leaders. I stand with you.  #MarchForOurLives

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The Greatest Showman's soundtrack won a Grammy for 'Best Compilation Soundtrack for Visual Media winner'

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Congrats Best Compilation Soundtrack for Visual Media winner - 'The Greatest Showman' @GreatestShowman #GRAMMYs

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Unreal!! Amazing!!! 🙏 @Zendaya @benjpasek @heyitsjustin @RealHughJackman @kealasettle @GreatestShowman https://t.co/7lPZt4IMGm
— Zac Efron (@ZacEfron) February 11, 2019

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Congrats Best Compilation Soundtrack for Visual Media winner - 'The Greatest Showman' @GreatestShowman #GRAMMYs

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Congrats Best Compilation Soundtrack for Visual Media winner - 'The Greatest Showman' @GreatestShowman #GRAMMYs

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Zac is also a brand ambassador for 'Kodiak Cakes', which is a company that sells wholegrain and protein packed baking goods, with some proceeds going toward wildlife projects. They also released a 'Keep it Wild' apparel range, where 100% of sales go toward wild bear conservation.

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Like everything in life, we're cravin' the good stuff. The real stuff. The stuff that gets us up before sunrise, the stuff that lights a fire under our bear naked...well you get the idea. So we're bringin ' you hardworking whole grains in every breakfast, 100%! Why? Cause a hearty, warm breakfast sets the table for epic days ahead. And well, you look like the kinda person that aims to live epic.

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Kodiak® | Feeding Epic Days & Wilder Lives™

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We are committed to inspiring healthier eating and active living with great-tasting products that are 100% whole grain, protein-packed, and non-GMO.

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Efron regularly shows his love for animals on his social media platforms, with many posts featuring dogs, horses or koalas from his many adventures. He has also used his platform of 14.6m on X to advocate against animal testing.

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Meet Ralph. He’s had a tough life, which isn’t surprising given he’s used as a cosmetics tester. Let’s work together to help animals just like Ralph by signing @HSIGlobal’s petition. Link in bio. #SaveRalph

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Meet Ralph. He’s had a tough life, which isn’t surprising given he’s used as a cosmetics tester. Let’s work together to help animals just like Ralph by signing @HSIGlobal’s petition. Link in bio. #SaveRalph https://t.co/ognxTCAsZN

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Meet Ralph. He’s had a tough life, which isn’t surprising given he’s used as a cosmetics tester. Let’s work together to help animals just like Ralph by signing @HSIGlobal’s petition. Link in bio. #SaveRalph pic.twitter.com/ognxTCAsZN
— Zac Efron (@ZacEfron) April 7, 2021

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Meet Ralph. He’s had a tough life, which isn’t surprising given he’s used as a cosmetics tester. Let’s work together to help animals just like Ralph by signing @HSIGlobal’s petition. Link in bio. #SaveRalph https://t.co/ognxTCAsZN

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Meet Ralph. He’s had a tough life, which isn’t surprising given he’s used as a cosmetics tester. Let’s work together to help animals just like Ralph by signing @HSIGlobal’s petition. Link in bio. #SaveRalph https://t.co/ognxTCAsZN

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Meet Ralph. He’s had a tough life, which isn’t surprising given he’s used as a cosmetics tester. Let’s work together to help animals just like Ralph by signing @HSIGlobal’s petition. Link in bio. #SaveRalph

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Down To Earth earned Zac a Daytime Emmy for his hosting skills. It was also nominated for the best 'Travel, Adventure and Nature Program' but lost out.

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Wow! Never expected this and so grateful. A HUGE thank you to @DaytimeEmmys @netflix and our small but powerful crew, #downtoearth who made this show what it is. And most of all, thank all of you for watching and enjoying D2E. This is for you. ❤️

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Wow! Never expected this and so grateful. A HUGE thank you to @DaytimeEmmys @netflix and our small but powerful crew, #downtoearth who made this show what it is. And most of all, thank all of you for watching and enjoying D2E. This is for you. ❤️ https://t.co/PFeMFecSlu

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Wow! Never expected this and so grateful. A HUGE thank you to @DaytimeEmmys @netflix and our small but powerful crew, #downtoearth who made this show what it is. And most of all, thank all of you for watching and enjoying D2E. This is for you. ❤️ pic.twitter.com/PFeMFecSlu
— Zac Efron (@ZacEfron) July 19, 2021

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Wow! Never expected this and so grateful. A HUGE thank you to @DaytimeEmmys @netflix and our small but powerful crew, #downtoearth who made this show what it is. And most of all, thank all of you for watching and enjoying D2E. This is for you. ❤️ https://t.co/PFeMFecSlu

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Wow! Never expected this and so grateful. A HUGE thank you to @DaytimeEmmys @netflix and our small but powerful crew, #downtoearth who made this show what it is. And most of all, thank all of you for watching and enjoying D2E. This is for you. ❤️ https://t.co/PFeMFecSlu

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Wow! Never expected this and so grateful. A HUGE thank you to @DaytimeEmmys @netflix and our small but powerful crew, #downtoearth who made this show what it is. And most of all, thank all of you for watching and enjoying D2E. This is for you. ❤️

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Efron took his love for wildlife and nature further in a 2020 series produced and distributed by Netflix titled 'Down to Earth'. He takes this series further in terms of activism, by promoting health, wellness and sustainable living practices to aid global conservation. This represents him as a caring individual who keeps up to date with concerns such as global warming, which is another fans may not have known without this series being produced.

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In 2019, we get the first glimpse of Zac's personal interest in adventuring and travelling, through his YouTube series "Off The Grid" which he created with his brother. The pair are shown to go on crazy dirt-buggy rides, fishing trips, skiing and surfing in the 4-part series. This represents him as a fun-loving, adventurous personality and unveils something about him that fans may not have known he was interested in.

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Breaking Free in Mammoth Lakes California | Off The Grid w/ Zac Efron

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Fans on: why did Efron's career not take off to super stardom?

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Fans on: why did Efron's career not take off to super stardom?

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Fans in the Reddit forum r/flicks here discuss how in his early career, with the original author suggesting he showed promise of being 'the next big thing' as he often 'showcased his various talents'

The first reply in the thread states: 'I think he’s become too comfortable in his niche of bro comedies and musicals, because anytime he’s done something else. [...] I could see him as a television personality or TV actor more than I could as a serious awards contender actor.'

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Why do you think Zac Efron's career did not take off more? I know he's successful but I feel like he had the potential to do much more than he has

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Hard Bodies: Hollywood Masculinity in the Reagan Era (Jeffords, S., 1994)

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Hard Bodies: Hollywood Masculinity in the Reagan Era (Jeffords, S., 1994)

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Whilst Jeffords' work mostly concerns the likes of Rambo, her ideas can still be applied to male star bodies, specifically white ones, of today. Efron conforms to unrealistic and idealistic body types, which Jeffords argues male audiences are supposed to be unfamiliar with such body types, and want to change themselves to look like on-screen stars. Zac contradicts himself at this time, by promoting the body physically but speaking out about the falseness of it.

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Extremely Wicked, Shockingly Evil and Vile (2019)

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Extremely Wicked, Shockingly Evil and Vile (2019)

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Efron completes yet another U-turn in his career shortly after returning to his musical roots, this time leaning into another serious true crime role - playing one of America's most notorious serial killers, Ted Bundy, in a film titled by a description given to the killer in court.

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In terms of tantalising Sundance prospects, the idea of watching Zac Efron play Ted Bundy has charmed its way to the top, morbid curiosity attaching itself to what screams of flashy stunt casting. The ex-Disney heartthrob graduated from the High School Musical franchise to a spotty adult career, showing comic skills in two sharp Neighbors films but struggling to make dross like We Are Your Friends, Baywatch or Dirty Grandpa feel remotely necessary.

His decision to play one of America's most notorious and sadistic serial killers in Extremely Wicked, Shockingly Evil and Vile (named after a courtroom description of Bundy) is a carefully considered turning point, a gruesome gambit aimed at showing hidden depths underneath his Ken doll exterior and a textbook move for an actor whose work has been so closely associated with his appearance. But unlike other depth-plumbing heartthrobs like Jared Leto in Chapter 27 or Charlize Theron in Monster, Efron doesn't require extreme weight gain or prosthetic teeth to transform, just an as-yet-unseen ability to lean into his dark side.

The film starts by showing us events from Bundy's fiance Liz's perspective as a single mother seduced by a charismatic stranger called Ted. The pair's honeymoon phase is soon brought to an end when Ted is accused of aggravated assault and Liz is forced to decide between a growing stack of evidence and her lover's dogged insistence that he's being framed. The decision to keep the viewer similarly in the dark as to Bundy's involvement in the crimes makes it a mostly bloodless affair and directed by the documentarian Joe Berlinger, it's also a rather drab one too, betraying a devilish title hinting at wilder, unseen depths.

In fact, the most shocking thing about the film is Efron's remarkably accomplished, fiercely committed performance. As Bundy, he ruthlessly weaponises the boyish charm that's propelled much of his career, slyly convincing us of the spell he cast, not only on Liz but the many other women who were fighting his corner, sure of his innocence. It's the career-changing moment he was clearly seeking and with an executive producer credit, one can understand his impassioned involvement, a juicy opportunity to break away from his pretty boy shackles and prove that he's deserving of more dramatic work. But away from his standout turn, it's a whole lot harder to figure out what those around him saw in the project.

Despite being centred on Bundy's longtime partner, her on-screen incarnation is stuck in a rather repetitive and incredibly limiting cycle of worrying and drinking and Collins, channelling a mopey, mid-00s Jennifer Connelly, struggles to pull her out of the dark. She's reduced to a stock character, which makes the choice to pull focus away from the gory details of Bundy's crimes feel all the more bizarre. As good as Efron is, he too is saddled with playing a character short on detail. We know nothing of his childhood, his motivation or the minutiae of just how he got away with it all for so long. Berlinger, and screenwriter Michael Werwie, clearly want to put us in the place of Liz and the others he fooled by withholding even a glimpse of his violence until the last minute. But given that we know both his guilt and depravity before the film even starts, it's a technique that doesn't fully work. Instead, it results in confusing time leaps and a list of frustratingly unanswered questions.

Berlinger's work as a documentary film-maker has brought him awards and acclaim for covering the crimes of everyone from Whitey Bulger to the West Memphis Three but his last narrative film was 2000's disastrous sequel to The Blair Witch Project and it remains an ill-fitting format for him. As the festival kicked off, Berlinger also dropped a Bundy documentary on Netflix and at times, this feels like a lifeless reconstruction of that, only really coming to life when Efron is on the charm offensive. The facts of Bundy's case remain fascinating and so they serve to drive interest regardless of presentation, but in order to separate this from previous attempts to bring his story to the screen, a surer, more stylish cinematic hand should have been pulling the strings.

It's a star vehicle that starts and ends with its star, the film around him struggling to justify its existence. Efron is wicked, the film less so.

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Extremely Wicked, Shockingly Evil and Vile review - Zac Efron shocks as Ted Bundy

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The star's charismatic and creepy performance as the notorious serial killer is the best thing about an otherwise pedestrian and graceless drama

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Efron tried something new by voice acting in the 2012 animation 'The Lorax' directed by Chris Renaud. He played Ted, who was the love interest of Taylor Swift's character, Audrey.

It received mostly negative reviews from film critics despite a star-studded cast; with Bradshaw (2012) stating "it is a fantastically boring, soulless animation"

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he Dr Seuss children's books have been adapted by Hollywood before - How the Grinch Stole Christmas (2000) and Dr Seuss' The Cat in the Hat (2003) were live-action versions with frantically zany and conceited lead performances from Jim Carrey and Mike Myers respectively; both films were pretty well unwatchable. A mention perhaps should go to the drama I Am Sam (2001) with Sean Penn giving a highly mannered performance as Sam, a grown man with learning difficulties who likes Dr Seuss's book Green Eggs and Ham. In that desperately well-meaning film, Penn was having a bit of a "Jerry Lewis" moment.

In its insidious way, The Lorax is more infuriating, more exasperating and more objectionable than any of these. It is a fantastically boring, soulless animation that could have been written by a computer programme, an animationbot. The basic finger-wagging eco-tale is expanded into a cutesy, over-extended movie about a boy who visits a creepy old fellow called The Once-ler who destroyed all the trees thereabouts: the name perhaps alludes to rapacious logging industries which use up resources once and for ever, with no sustainability. There's another little guy called the Lorax (voiced by Danny DeVito), who is on the side of trees and nature, but can apparently do nothing to help, other than address our better natures.

Peter Bradshaw, Catherine Shoard and Henry Barnes review The Lorax guardian.co.uk

The distinctive jaunty rhyme-scheme of the children's book is abandoned, except for The Lorax's introduction. The film has a surface sheen of plausibility: it looks and sounds as if it should be as charming as witty as some of the terrific animated movies from Pixar and Dreamworks that we've been spoiled by over the last decade or so. But it isn't: there is something dead inside it. The young romance subplot is perfunctory, and the basic anti-logging message contrives to be both didactic and pious, while being at the same time mystifyingly impotent. The Lorax never does anything much but raise his great cute bewhiskered face and look accusingly. Perhaps new generations of young cinemagoers will be encouraged to think that this kind of doe-eyed concern will be enough to protect nature. And in any case, this plasticky, production-line multiplex product does not make a compelling argument because it looks so very unnatural.

There are no complaints to make about the technical work here: it looks bright and clean and sharp. But there is no charm or life. Maybe the time has come for some Ned Ludd to rampage through the studios, throwing laptops out of the window and forcing animators to do some freehand drawing and make up the technical shortfall with some exceptionally good scripts.

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he Dr Seuss children's books have been adapted by Hollywood before - How the Grinch Stole Christmas (2000) and Dr Seuss' The Cat in the Hat (2003) were live-action versions with frantically zany and conceited lead performances from Jim Carrey and Mike Myers respectively; both films were pretty well unwatchable.

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The attractive pair were soon to be romantically linked, despite filming their voice-overs in different states. The above clip shows them calling out chat-show host Ellen Degeneres for making them feel uncomfortable due to perpetrating the romance rumours. They do so by re-writing lyrics to 'Pumped Up Kicks', instead singing about how Ellen is really weird.

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When promoting the second film, an advert was brought out in the advert break of 'The Walking Dead', in which Seth and Zac are faced with a decision of whether to kill a zombie or not. The clip ends with the pair sat on directors chairs, with Efron suggesting 'we call it Neighbors 3: Zombies Rising', making light of a potential third movie.

This never materialised as the second instalment didn't gross even half the amount of the original film.

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The film was so successful it went on to gain a sequel. In the above clip, an interviewer from the TODAY show visited Efron and Rogan on set. At the end of the clip, her co-anchor admits she had an embarrassing blunder whilst talking to Efron, which they then proceed to show as she forgets her lines. She justifies it by saying: 'I'm sorry, but Zac Efron is so hot! His arms were just busting out of his t-shirt'. Another host comments on his personality: 'he was so patient and he understood.' This reflects his charm and professionalism.

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Seth Rogen, Zac Efron Talk From The Set Of ‘Neighbors 2’ | TODAY

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This film with Seth Rogan was an instant hit, topping the box office in opening week and grossing over $270 million USD.

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In an interview with Elle magazine titled 'The Zen of Zac', he is asked about how he was coping with sobriety, to which he responds: 'What I found is structure. That led me to a balance of opposites: You get out of life what you put in. There was a moment when my morning routine was, like, Get up and Google yourself. [...] A lot of my hobbies had gone out the window. I couldn't skateboard or surf for fear of being followed.'

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How Being Sober Changed Zac Efron’s Life

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Zac Efron is older, happier, and in keen pursuit of next-level wisdom. But don’t worry: that bod isn’t going anywhere.

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Returning to his musical roots with an all-star cast including Hugh Jackman and Zendaya, Efron once again finds himself playing an attractive love interest.

This film is very reminiscent of the Disney days, as he stars alongside Zendaya who also found her start on the network. Here, he reminds audiences of his multiple talents - a triple threat in the arts.

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The Greatest Showman | "Rewrite The Stars" Lyric Video | Fox Family Entertainment

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Whilst making an appearance on the Ellen Degeneres show, Zac is shown his new waxwork figure that will be on display at Madame Tussaud's, Hollywood. He compares himself to the figure, and says 'For guys, that's unrealistic I'm telling you [...] I don't want people to think that is the best way to be [...] I don't want to glamorise this' which is met by large applause from the audience.

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Zac Efron Compares Abs to His Wax Figure

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Efron continued showing off his physique in the 2017 film adaptation of the 80s classic, Baywatch.

However, he has alluded to having reached this form by disordered eating and unattainable workout habits, which he claims was "just stupid" and "just not real" in his Hot Ones interview.

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Zac Efron Ups the Ante While Eating Spicy Wings | Hot Ones

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As his more serious acting roles never took off, Efron retreated to roles where his looks were the focus. He landed many party based roles where he could show off his muscles in the years 2014-2016. The content of these roles appealed to a more mature audience rather than Disney kids.

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Following the back-to-back run of films he had just done and stress of media intrusion in his personal life, Zac turned to binge-drinking and excessive drug use, at around the same time he was filming That Awkward Moment (2014) and Neighbors (2014). Ironically, both films feature him playing characters that drink heavily and threw wild 'frat' parties. Reports from the time claim he was failing to show up to work due to reckless partying.

He went to rehab for his abuses in 2013, and joined Alcoholics Anonymous.

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Zac Efron did NOT go to rehab for alcohol abuse -- it was far more serious, because multiple sources tell TMZ he had a serious cocaine addiction.

Zac completed his stint in rehab earlier this year. We're told the problem spiraled out of control during the filming of Seth Rogen's movie " Neighbors," which was shot during a narrow time frame beginning in April.

Sources tell us Zac -- who also starred in the movie -- was a no-show on a number of days. As one source connected with the film tells us, "It was common knowledge he was struggling with cocaine."

Three other sources confirm ... Zac's problem was rooted in cocaine, but say he also dabbled in Molly -- a pure form of Ecstasy, and a popular drug in clubs and raves.

We're told ... early this year, Zac and some friends went on a coke rager in a room at the SkyLofts at the MGM Grand in Vegas ... and caused around $50k in damage. No word on who took care of the bill.

We contacted Zac's rep ... she said, "Don't think we'll be making a comment."

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Zac Efron -- Rehab for Big Cocaine Problem

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Zac Efron did NOT go to rehab for alcohol abuse -- it was far more serious, because multiple sources tell TMZ he had a serious cocaine addiction.

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Efron shifted to lower-budget, indie film festival roles in At Any Price (2012) and Parkland (2013). Both were semi-successful on the festival circuit but still failed to secure Efron as a more serious actor in thriller and drama genres.

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This film is seen as a pivotal moment in his career in trying to move away from his clean cut image. The crime thriller with Matthew McConaughey and Nicole Kidman included dark and mature themes.

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Zac's celebrity identity can most be likened to the 'achieved celebrity' (Rojek, 2001, p.18). These are people who have achieved celebrity status through their own accomplishments and excelling in their field.

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Celebrity and The Media (Redmond, S., 2014)

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Celebrity and The Media (Redmond, S., 2014)

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Zac conforms to the idea proposed by Redmond (2014), as he faced issues with alcohol and drug abuse.

'One of the key narrative arcs of the celebrity figure is the rise-and-fall trajectory. No sooner does the celebrity reach the heights and highs of success than they fall prey to drugs, booze, instability, and a career nosedive.' P. 17

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Multiple behind-the-scenes clips from High School Musical filming portray Efron as a 'prankster'. For example, in the above clip, he and his cast mates discuss his love for water balloons and water fights. This creates a 'laddish' and relatable identity for boys his age. This makes him seem 'normal' despite his ever growing fame by the time the third film was released.

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High School Musical 3 interviews - Watergun fight incident

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Zac stars as the love interest in his girlfriend and HSM co-star Vanessa Hudgens' music video for 'Say OK.' They had been dating since they met on the HSM set in 2005. The decision to have him in the video may have been her own choice, but it is likely that the Disney executives had some input to help promote the clean-cut image of their relationship and provide buzz for a potential third movie.

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In his first role that bids his future as a more serious actor rather than his common pretty-boy roles, he plays an aspiring actor in in 'Me and Orson Welles' (2009), a screen adaptation of a book in the same name by Robert Kaplow.

Zac went on to continue to portray love interests in multiple films such as Charlie St. Cloud (2010), New Year's Eve (2011) and The Lucky One (2012).

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Once again, Efron's early roles do not stray far from his stereotypical teenage heartthrob looks, where he plays a young version of Matthew Perry's character who gets thrown back in time to age 17. It reflects his 'real' star image as he acts in an immature adolescent way, which is similar to that of his behind the scenes clips from High School Musical.

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17 Again (2009) Official Trailer - Zac Efron, Matthew Perry Movie HD

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High School Musical 3 was the biggest of the three movies, even getting its own cinema roll-out. This was Efron's last time playing Bolton, and the end of his era as a Disney actor.

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High School Musical 3 Trailer - Official

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Efron played another teenage heartthrob in a screen-adaptation of 'Hairspray' the musical. His role as Link Larkin was similar to that of Troy Bolton and whilst his character is no more serious than Bolton, it is clear Efron wanted to steer into acting roles that would be more challenging and professional. Hairspray has a core political theme of the Civil Rights Movement of the 1960s and segregation issues.

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In 2007, the sequel was released and broke cable TV records during the premiere, with 17 million viewers tuning in.

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Everyday | High School Musical 2 | Disney Channel

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Efron's rise to fame was skyrocketed by his lead role as Troy Bolton in Disney Channel's Original Movie, High School Musical (2006). The film follows a group of teens figuring out where they fit into their school's 'status quo'. Bolton is the 'Wildcats' basketball team's superstar, but is struggling to accept that he has a passion for performing arts. Gabriella - played by Vanessa Hudgens - helps him come out of his comfort zone and embrace his talents on court and on stage.

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His first on-screen appearance was within Sci-fi show 'Firefly' in 2002. He had similar small guest roles within other series such as The Guardian and CSI: Miami.

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The Sci-Fi Show You Didn't Know Was Zac Efron's First Role

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Zac Efron started his acting career aged 11, where he did a run of stage shows such as Peter Pan and Little Shop of Horrors