Vanessa Hudgens has come a long way since her High School Musical days. Working hard to shed her “good girl” image (see Spring Breakers), the Filipina takes on another gritty role in Roadside Attractions’ Gimme Shelter, due out in theaters January 24. Based on a true story, the film follows Agnes “Apple” Bailey, played by Hudgens, who is abused by her mother (Rosario Dawson) and abandoned by her Wall Street father (Brendan Fraser). Pregnant and alone, Apple ultimately finds compassion in a stranger (James Earl Jones), who takes her in at a suburban shelter for homeless teenagers.
Following in the footsteps of other actresses who have undergone major physical transformations for roles that garnered critical acclaim, Hudgens dons shorn hair and is virtually unrecognizable in the film. She reportedly lived for weeks in pregnancy shelters, interacting with the young, homeless mothers who also appear in the movie, to prepare for her role. Will this be the making of Hudgens as a serious actress? Check out the trailer here or click here.
Photos courtesy of Roadside Attractions.
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