The High School Musical sweetheart is in Australia for the fourth time and apparently cannot get enough of us. "I love Australia so much," she said. "My best friend is actually from here, and I really love the place."
Hudgens, 23, is on a promotional tour for her new film, Journey 2: The Mysterious Island, and she walked the red carpet at South Yarra's Jam Factory last night for the Australian premiere. She said the chance to work opposite dual Academy Award winner Sir Michael Caine, 78, was too good to pass up.
"It was a great cast, and we had so much fun," Hudgens said. "We filmed in Hawaii, which was paradise, and made something that's fun and light-hearted for the whole family."Hudgens' Australian connections were strengthened last year when she starred in Sucker Punch, a fantasy thriller also featuring local star Abbie Cornish.
"Abbie is one of the most incredible women I know," Hudgens said. "She's so strong-willed, very interesting and extremely creative - a beautiful soul."Rising actor Josh Hutcherson accompanied Hudgens last night, to the delight of dozens of screaming female fans.