Zac Efron on getting buff for Baywatch with Dwayne Johnson, getting over High School Musical, hating social media and looking for love as a sex symbol – interview
‘I was very against Twitter and Facebook’: the 17 Again and Neighbors star reveals his career ambitions, his attitude towards relationships, and how he came to love social media – eventually
I’ve always tried to make things as difficult as possible for myself. I’ve tried to push myself and that’s made my life much more interesting than it would have been otherwise
He has come far in the years since High School Musical
I’ve been able to learn and grow with each film and each role. I’ve been very lucky to have got my life together and experience a new kind of awareness where I’m enjoying every moment so much more. Being in the public eye, you need to be able to deal with the kind of embarrassment that comes from having your life scrutinised. The experience teaches you to be able to live through all the good and bad times and take responsibility for your life. That’s probably the most important and valuable lesson that I’ve learned, and I try to apply that going forward. It’s been an interesting journey and I like where things are headed.
He loved the physique he developed for Baywatch
Sometimes it was tough being on the set because you feel the strain on your system when your body and brain are craving carbs. On a film like that, though, where you’re shirtless most of the time, you’ve got to maintain that discipline and regimen.
But once you’ve done it, you feel a great sense of accomplishment and you want to be able to keep pushing yourself like that. I’ve never felt stronger or fitter in my life. It’s got nothing to do with how much I can bench press or how many sit-ups I can do. It’s more the feeling that comes with knowing that you can take care of yourself if you get into a dangerous situation. That’s another reason I have so much respect for [his co-star] Dwayne [“The Rock” Johnson] – he has incredible energy and drive and has such an optimistic spirit that is truly inspiring. He’s awesome!
He’s ambitious and ready for new challenges