Vanessa Hudgens Was Dating Zac Efron When She Met This Future Boyfriend

Vanessa Hudgens is known for her many leading roles in Hollywood, including acting in projects like "Spring Breakers" and "The Princess Switch" films. The prominent career of the multitalented actress skyrocketed in 2006 when she starred alongside Zac Efron as the character Gabriella Montez, a brainy high school student with a hidden singing talent, in "High School Musical." 

Hudgens and Efron were introduced while auditioning for the Disney Channel movie, and began dating in 2005 as the film was being shot, as reported by Elle. The pair formed a bond that seemed inseparable as they dated throughout the filming of the next two movies of the series, "High School Musical 2" and "High School Musical 3: Senior Year."

Sadly, however, the two couldn't sustain their union, and news broke that they had ended their relationship in December 2010. At the time, an insider explained the couple's mutual decision to part ways, per E! News.

"They were together for so long. It just ran its course," the source said.

Nearly a year after her breakup with Zac Efron, reports emerged that Vanessa Hudgens had begun dating actor Austin Butler. Although Hudgens was linked with Efron shortly after meeting him in 2005, she coincidentally was also introduced to her future boyfriend, Butler, during this time period. Not only that, but, similar to Efron, Hudgens became acquainted with Butler while working on the set of "High School Musical," PopSugar reported. Butler was acting as an extra for the film when he met Hudgens, but their romantic connection wasn't fated to begin until they reconnected years later.

In spite of ongoing rumors that the two had been seeing each other since 2011, Hudgens and Butler didn't publicly document their relationship until 2013, when Hudgens posted a group photo with Butler on her Instagram account. For the next several years, Hudgens would openly discuss her relationship with Butler in a handful of interviews, including when she spoke to ET in 2018 about the positive encouragement Butler had provided as her significant other.

"He's a wonderful supporter ... I'm happy to have him here," Hudgens said. "I think it's so important to have a person who is your rock."

Unfortunately, the connection between Vanessa Hudgens and Austin Butler wasn't destined to last. Following a relationship of nearly nine years, a source told Us Weekly in January 2020 that the two had officially parted ways.

"Vanessa has been telling those close to her about their breakup," the source explained.

Although this union sadly came to a halt, the good news is that it sounds like the ex-couple ended things on a positive note. An insider who spoke to E! News detailed that, in spite of Hudgens and Butlers' split, there were no negative feelings between them following their separation.

"They're just shooting on two different continents and it's a matter of distance," the source said about the breakup. "There is no bad blood at all, and they have a lot of respect for each other."

Since they ended their relationship, Hudgens has begun dating Major League Baseball player Cole Tucker as of late 2020, per Nicki Swift. TheThings reported that Butler was rumored to be dating Lily-Rose Depp in 2021, but she appears to be unattached as she has since been spotted with French rapper Yassine Stein, as reported by Page Six. Hudgens has definitely had an interesting relationship history, but it sounds like her romantic life has worked out positively in the end!