Vanessa Hudgens' Dating History: From Zac Efron to Cole Tucker

Vanessa Hudgens married Cole Tucker in December 2023

Throughout her career, actress and singer Vanessa Hudgens has had several high-profile relationships.

Before marrying professional baseball player Cole Tucker in 2023, Hudgens was involved in several Hollywood romances. She became famous with the role of Gabrielle in the film High school musical franchise, which also introduced her to Zac Efron. The two turned their on-screen romance into real life and dated from 2005 to 2010.

After dating Efron, Hudgens briefly dated Josh Hutcherson before starting another long-term relationship with Austin Butler. The couple was together for more than eight years before they split.

In 2020, the actress started dating Tucker. The couple got engaged in late 2022 and married in December 2023.

Vanessa Hudgens and Cole Tucker Relationship Timeline

From Zac Efron to Cole Tucker, here’s everything you need to know about Vanessa Hudgens’ relationship history.

Zac Efron

Zac Efron and Vanessa Hudgens at The Pearl in West Hollywood, California. Michael Bezjian/WireImage

The on-screen couple became real while working together on High school musical in 2005, Hudgens split into The The Hollywood Reporter podcast Chatter about awards 2018 that the couple started dating “just at the beginning” of the franchise, feeling chemistry right away in the audition room.

“We created a relationship from the very beginning,” she said on the podcast. “We were like, ‘We do this, it’s us or nothing.’ ” In the same interview, Hudgens explained that her relationship with Efron was comforting because they both became famous.

“Being in a relationship, I feel like that kind of kept me stabilized and grounded, and I had someone to lean on who was also going through it,” she said.

They did not officially confirm their relationship until 2007 when Hudgens cast Efron as the romantic lead in the music video for her song “Say OK”. A few months later, at the premiere of the film in Los Angeles High school musical 2the actress said her costar is an “amazing guy.”

Efron had few words of praise, telling PEOPLE on the film’s set that Hudgens “just brings sparkle to everything.” He was also honest with Rolling stone during a 2007 interview, saying, “The weird thing that no one expected from Vanessa is that underneath such a sweet girl … hides a very sexy woman.”

The pair continued to work together, finishing High school musical franchise, which ended in 2008. The following year, Efron and Hudgens attended the Academy Awards together, looking much more grown up than their high school characters.

In 2010, Princess Switch the actress opened up Glamour about how their relationship changed as they grew after their first roles.

“I mean, he wasn’t the guy he is today. Like, he had a hole in his teeth… [He’s] just grown up,” Hudgens said. “He doesn’t have his gap anymore. I look at him and see a man. I think we inspire each other. [I love] to have someone to grow with.”

However, later that year, the couple announced they had gone their separate ways – she was 22 at the time and he was 23. A source told PEOPLE, “They are 100 percent still good friends.” Although they did not give a reason for the breakup, Hudgens later suggested that their frequent separation had taken its toll.

“Long-distance relationships are hard no matter what. When you don’t have face-to-face time, it’s just different,” she shared with Form 2011. But Hudgens still had good things to say about Efron. “We grew up together,” she told the newspaper. “It was nice to have someone to share all those experiences with.”

The couple briefly reunited (virtually) in 2020 Disney Family Singalong special, where Hudgens performed with the others High school musical cast members and Efron introduced the group.

Josh Hutcherson

Vanessa Hudgens and Josh Hutcherson at the world premiere of “Journey 2: The Mysterious Island” on January 15, 2012 in Melbourne, Australia. Graham Denholm/Getty

In February 2011, rumors surfaced that Hudgens was dating her Journey 2: Mysterious Island costar Hutcherson. Sources told PEOPLE that the duo looked quite cozy at the premiere of her film Animal. A few days later, he brought her as a companion to the Independent Spirit Awards, and they were seen together in April 2011 at Coachella.

Their brief relationship was confirmed in an embarrassing interview in 2012 Today’s Australia when the interviewer asked how long the couple had been dating. Hudgens and Hutcherson exchanged a surprised look before he quickly said, “We’re not — we were at one point, that was a long time ago… we’re really good friends now.”

Austin Butler

Vanessa Hudgens and Austin Butler attend the 2019 Vanity Fair Oscar Party on February 24, 2019 in Beverly Hills, California. George Pimentel/Getty

Hudgens and Butler were first seen together in September 2011, when they both attended sister Ashley Tisdale’s birthday party. A few months later, the couple made their official red carpet debut at the premiere of her film Journey 2: Mysterious Island. Butler wore a simple suit, while Hudgens chose a bright yellow floor-length dress.

They made their relationship official on Instagram in 2014 when the actress posted a sweet tribute to her then-boyfriend for his birthday. “Happy birthday to the man with the kindest heart, most beautiful soul, insane talent and the best looks I’ve ever seen,” Hudgens wrote in the caption.

In 2015, Butler spoke with Party tonight about his relationship with the actress, sharing that the key to their relationship has always been putting the other person first. A few years later, Hudgens also spoke about how they maintained their relationship as a long-distance couple. “Just communication, communication is key,” she told PEOPLE in 2017.

During almost a decade of life together, Hudgens and Butler were very supportive in each other’s careers. When Butler was cast as Elvis Presley in July 2019 — a role that later earned him an Oscar nomination — Hudgens celebrated her boyfriend on Instagram, writing, “I CAN’T WAIT 😍😍😍😍😍😍 I’M SO PROUD OF MY MEDAYYYY!! ! ”

However, in January 2020, they each went their separate ways. A source shared with PEOPLE, “A busy work schedule and travel definitely put a strain on the relationship. They were a beautiful couple and it’s really sad that it didn’t work out.”

When Butler was asked about their time together in an interview with GQ more than two years after the breakup, he replied: “Life is full of changes and you have to find a way to constantly evolve and grow.” For her part, Hudgens said NYLON 2022. that she was in two very long relationships that changed her life, although she did not specify with whom.

Kyle Kuzma

Left: Vanessa Hudgens. Right: Kyle Kuzma. John Shearer/Getty; David Crotty/Patrick McMullan

Washington Wizards player Kyle Kuzma was spotted out to dinner with Hudgens shortly after her breakup with Butler went public in January 2020. Days later, a source told PEOPLE, “They’re seeing each other, but things are slow and they’re just having fun at this stage .”

Hudgens also left a flirtatious comment on Kuzma’s Instagram and followed it up in her Instagram caption. A source shared, “She’s living and having fun. She seems really happy and excited about life, honestly.”

Cole Tucker

Vanessa Hudgens, her fiance Cole Tucker and attend the 2021 AFI Fest – Gala Premiere of Netflix’s ‘Tick, Tick … BOOM’ on November 10, 2021 in Hollywood, California. Axelle/Bauer-Griffin/FilmMagic

Hudgens found her husband. On December 2, 2023, she and Tucker were married in Tulum, Mexico.

The couple first sparked dating rumors in November 2020 when they were spotted together in LA, Hudgens said Party tonight 2021 that the couple first met in a Zoom meditation group. She also shared those same years The Drew Barrymore Show that she was the one who made the first move. “I just slid into his DMs and said, ‘Hey, nice to meet you.’ Therefore, I think there is no shame in taking the first step.”

They made things official on Instagram in February 2021 — Hudgens posted a sweet snap of them kissing with the caption, “It’s you, it’s me, it’s us.” Tucker spoke about her that same month, saying, “I have a girlfriend and she’s cool. She’s great, I love her.”

They made their official red carpet debut in November 2021, attending the premiere of Hudgens’ film Tick ​​Tick… BOOM! in LA

In February 2023, PEOPLE confirmed that Hudgens and Tucker had become engaged late the previous year. The couple posted their joint announcement on Instagram, showing off a large diamond ring. “YES. We couldn’t be happier,” they wrote in the description.

A month later, Hudgens told PEOPLE she was surprised by Paris’ proposal. “We definitely talked about it, but I didn’t expect it to happen the way it did and at the time it did,” she said. “It definitely caught me off guard and I bawled my eyes out.”

After their engagement, fans quickly found a Tucker’s post on Xu from 2012 which seemingly manifested his final connection. “Looking for: A Girl to Watch High school musical with me and scratch my back,” he wrote.

In October 2023, Hudgens celebrated her bachelorette party in Aspen, Colorado with friends including actresses Alexandra Shipp and Sarah Hyland.

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Source: HIS Education