'Beastly' Star Vanessa Hudgens Talks Typecasting, Girl Power and 'Sucker Punch'

Though some of you may be loath to admit it, even if you're not in Disney's target demographic, we doubt you were able to ignore the juggernaut that was the 'High School Musical' franchise, the record-breaking TV-movie series that became a worldwide sensation and made overnight stars of Zac Efron and Vanessa Hudgens when the first film arrived in 2006. Maybe, like me, you watched one or more of the movies just to see what all the fuss was about (anyone? Bueller?) or maybe you proudly enjoyed the frothy, feel-good flicks for what they were; unpretentious (if silly) entertainment with heart.

The fresh-faced teen stars may be all grown up now, but Vanessa Hudgens has no intention of abandoning her roots -- though she'll be starring in Zack Snyder's action epic 'Sucker Punch' later this month, her newest release is the romantic teen fantasy 'Beastly,' a modern reworking of the 'Beauty and the Beast' story, set against the backdrop of a privileged private school in New York. Like in 'HSM,' she plays a shy but willful wallflower who falls in love with a guy she never could've predicted, but will they live happily ever after?

Moviefone caught up with Hudgens earlier this week to discuss filming a fairy tale, working with Neil Patrick Harris, and, yes, just how much fun she had kicking ass on the set of 'Sucker Punch' -- join us after the jump for more.