I wrote in 2012 (!) (see below) that I thought the play Zac Efron was going for was the Ryan Gosling play, and while he hasn’t had that level of success, I for sure think if you watch A FAMILY AFFAIR, you see a really similar (and solid!) leaning into “dorky hunk” comedy. www.npr.org/2012/04/21/1...
And look, that kid has not won an Oscar or anything. But he has massively overachieved based on what I think expectations were around the High School Musical 3 days. He has worked a lot, and done well, in a lot of different things. I root for him.
Pivots for women in Hollywood are extremely difficult. But the pivot for dudes from “teenage hero who is wonderful because he definitely isn’t going to try to have sex with you” to “adult sexy man who is absolutely going to try to have sex with you” is tough also!
