Nude photo of ‘HSM2’ star shows up on Web

Nude photo of ‘HSM2’
star shows up on Web

NEW YORK — Brainy Gabriella of “High School Musical” would no doubt blush at the idea that a nude picture of young actress Vanessa Hudgens was circulating on the Internet. The problem for the Walt Disney Co. is that Hudgens plays Gabriella. Hudgens’ publicist confirmed Friday that the photograph is indeed the 18-year-old star of Disney Channel’s wildly successful “High School Musical” franchise. It shows a coquettishly smiling Hudgens posing naked in a bedroom with a red curtain behind her. “This was a photo which was taken privately,” said Jill Fritzo, Hudgens’ publicist. “It is a personal matter and it is unfortunate that this has become public.” The Disney Channel (part of the Walt Disney Co.) denied a published report that Hudgens will be dropped from the upcoming feature film “High School Musical 3.” That movie is in development and negotiations with the stars are incomplete.

Today’s birthdays

Comedian Sid Caesar is 85. Ventriloquist Willie Tyler is 67. Actor Alan Feinstein is 66. Author Ann Beattie is 60. Musician Will Lee (“Late Show with David Letterman”) is 55. Actress Heather Thomas is 50. Singer Aimee Mann is 47. Pop musician David Steele (Fine Young Cannibals) is 47. Alternative country singer Neko Case is 37. TV personality Brooke Burke is 36. Actor Martin Freeman is 36. Actor Henry Thomas is 36. Actor David Arquette is 36. Rock musician Richard Hughes (Keane) is 32. Actor Larenz Tate is 32. Rhythm-and-blues singer Pink is 28. Actor Jonathan Taylor Thomas is 26.