Efron to Hudgens: Get your gear off

High School Musical star Zac Efron thinks his girlfriend Vanessa Hudgens needs to get naked to shed her goody-good image, sources say. Photo / AP

Zac Efron thinks his girlfriend Vanessa Hudgens should get naked on camera.

The 21-year-old actor is encouraging his High School Musical co-star lover to do a steamy magazine shoot or strip for a movie role so she can shed her "goody-goody" image.

A source is quoted by website National Ledger as saying: "Zac believes it is a good way for her to get beyond the teeny-bopper stigma. He is making the leap to A-list actor and he wants Vanessa to go along with him.

"He said if she has to bare more of her body, then she shouldn't be afraid of doing that."

Earlier this month, Disney star Vanessa admitted she was open to the idea of baring all for the camera, but wants the nudity to be essential to the role.

She said: "I will show nudity in a film when the time is right. Right now, I wouldn't feel comfortable doing it.

"When the time's right, if it's an amazing movie that I'm really passionate about and that's what it calls for, then we'll see."

Although she doesn't feel it is appropriate for her to get naked now, explicit photos of Vanessa have already appeared.

In September 2007, pictures of her posing provocatively in lingerie as well as one naked shot were leaked on the internet.

She later apologised for the images, saying she was embarrassed and regretted having "taken those photos".

- BANG! SHOWBIZ