A file photo of Vanessa Hudgens in North Hollywood, Friday, February 15. Photo Credit: London Entertainment / Splash News
March 22, 2008 (Sawf News) - Vanessa Anne Hudgens is an American actress and singer who attained fame as Gabriella Montez in the hit Disney Channel High School Musical film series.
Vanessa was born on December 14, 1988 in Salinas, California.
She became embroiled in a controversy after risqué photos of her posing in various states of undress, including completely naked, appeared on the web on Thursday, 6 Sep 2007.
Hudgens had emailed the photos to Nickelodeon star Drake Bell a couple of years ago, before she became famous.
In a statement issued on Sep 7, Hudgens asked for forgiveness from her fans, and said that the situation has left her embarrassed.
"I want to apologize to my fans, whose support and trust mean the world to me. I am embarrassed over this situation and regret having ever taken these photos. I am thankful for the support of my family and friends," she said.
Following her apology Disney Channel opted to set the controversy aside and cast her in the third installment of the movie series.
"Vanessa has apologized for what was obviously a lapse in judgment. We hope she's learned a valuable lesson," Patti McTeague, a spokesperson for the network said
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