Vanessa Hudgens back as Gabriella in "High School Musical 3:

Filipino-American teen star Vanessa Hudgens played the brainy and beautiful  Gabriella Montez in the 2006 Disney Channel movie “High School Musical” and the sequel.

Now, along with Troy, Chad, Sharpay and the rest of the gang, Gabriella is back at the fictional East High for Walt Disney Pictures’ big screen feature, “High School Musical 3: Senior Year,” the first of the “HSM” films to be released in movie theaters instead of premiering on television.

Vanessa, who recently released her second solo album, talks about “HSM3” during a break from filming on the Salt Lake City set.

Q: What’s different about “High School Musical 3” compared with the first two films?

Vanessa Hudgens: I think the first two films were all leading up to this movie because this is our last year at school and we’re dealing with adult issues, like getting into college, and leaving friends, family, and relationships behind. It’s stuff everyone has gone through or will go through at some point. The other big difference is that because it’s a film for cinemas this time we’ve really taken it up a notch. We have upped our dancing, we’ve upped the songs, I think we’ve all grown as actors, and it’s gonna have surround sound! I hope the fans are going to love it!

Q: Do you have a favorite song in each of the movies?

Hudgens: In the first one I think “Breaking Free” is a great number. In the second one, I liked “Gotta Go My Own Way”. And the third one, I think I’d have to say the one we were filming today, “Just Wanna Be With You”. It’s really catchy and it’s really simple, but there’s so much meaning underneath. It sort of reminds me of the Beatles’ song, “I Wanna Hold Your Hand.”

Q: Can you remember your audition for the first film? It must seem like a long time ago.

Hudgens: Yes, I was 16 when I first went in. I remember I did a scene by myself and then they asked me to sing a song, so I sang the Robbie Williams song, “Angels.” So I get a second audition and they ask me to sing a song again, so I sang the same one and they’re like, “Uh, yeah, that was good, but do you know anything else?” [Laughs] I did something by Kelly Clarkson.

Q: At what point did you realize that “HSM” was going to be such a big deal?

Hudgens: When we were appearing on Good Morning America in New York and we were performing “We’re All In This Together” in the middle of Times Square. It was my first time in New York and I was just astounded to be part of this thing and, of course, that was just the beginning of it.

Q: Has all the success brought pressures with it too?

Hudgens: I always try and keep in mind that people like what we’re doing and we bring a certain joy to them and that’s why there’s this interest in what we’re doing off-screen.

Q: This is your last “HSM” film. How do you feel about this whole experience coming to an end?

Hudgens: I’m trying not to think about it [Vanessa’s eyes flood with tears]. The last day of shooting is going to be horrendous.

(Opening soon across the Philippines, “High School Musical 3: Senior Year” is distributed by Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures International.)