Zac Efron and director Richard Linkletter talk to The Dish Rag about making “Me and Orson Welles,” about the legendary actor/director’s early days working on the New York stage. What drew Zac to the incredibly faithful period film? And what’s with the hair?

“I was definitely more interested in working with Rick,” Zac says. “I was pretty floored when I got the phone call that he was interested and had this script and a part. I remember that I ran home to read that script. I really identified with the character. He did everything that I did working in theatre growing up except a little cooler. All my best moments are summed up in that one week.”

He was a bit creeped out by some of the things he learned about Welles though.

“The attention to detail went as far as what sculpture he had in his house and how much steak he ate,” Zac reveals. “It’s a little bit weird.”

As for the rocking new do, he just got it cut. [Source]

Zac Efron sang and danced his way to success in the wildly popular “High School Musical” movies – not to mention Hairspray. Now, he’s taking a serious turn in Richard Linklater’s “Me and Orson Welles,” playing a high-school kid who lucks into a big break in Welles’ famous production of Julius Caesar. Parade.com’s Jeanne Wolf found out why Efron was ready to take a gamble on a serious dramatic role.

Taking a chance.
“I had never done anything like this before. I was still reeling from everything that had happened to me, all the attention I was suddenly getting from High School Musical. I thought, ‘Maybe this time I’ve bitten off more than I can chew because I’m not singing and dancing. It’s all about acting. I knew people wouldn’t see it as a predictable next move in my career, but I’d like to be known for more than predictability.”

Why the story felt familiar.
“I really connected with Rick – the way he kind of lucked into an opportunity to act, and thanks to Orson Welles, doors were opening for him. It kind of resembled my life experience growing up in the theater. In school, my whole life was focused on theater, especially musicals, which were a creative outlet. I had no clue that I’d end up in Hollywood. I’m still on the craziest ride of my life.”

There’s no escape.
“We went to the Isle of Man, which is a fairly secluded place to do some filming. The idea of going to a fairly secluded place where I could kind of just leave all of the attention behind was really appealing. Richard Linklater was like, ‘You’re going to love it. There are no paparazzi.’ So we were in this old theater filming a scene and suddenly we heard clapping and cheering. It turned out there was a bunch of kids who were High School Musical fans and they had found me. So I went outside and signed some autographs. I really found their enthusiasm endearing.”

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When it comes to co-stars, few young actresses are as lucky as Claire Danes. “The Romeo & Juliet” star got to work with Leonardo DiCaprio back when he was just making his mark on the movie industry, and now she gets to film alongside rising Disney star Zac Efron for the upcoming flick “Me and Orsen Welles”. Now, we’ve definitely noticed that Zac and Leo have a lot in common. But apparently Claire has noticed some similarities too.

“They’re obviously both very gifted,” she told MTV News. “They’re both charismatic and gorgeous.” Yeah, we got the gorgeous part. That’s not all though, Claire also added that the two also approach their careers similarly.

“They’re also very discriminating in their choices,” she said. “They’re very discerning and have great taste. They’re really serious and want to make great movies as well as great performances. So there’s that parallel there. And Zac is really formidable and he’s going to be around a long time.” [Source]

Zac Efron is far from new to the big screen. But that doesn’t mean that the Disney star doesn’t get nervous. Zac, who is starring in “Me and Orson Welles” (out in limited release this week), about a young man’s start in Broadway, recently admitted to MTV News that he still gets jittery before going on camera.

“I definitely get stage fright,” he said, “That’s part of the fun. That’s what makes it interesting. It’s sort of addicting, that feeling. You know you’re alive.” [Source]

“Me And Orson Welles” director Richard Linklater has praised Zac Efron for being a “real leading man.” The “High School Musical” actor stars alongside Christian McKay and Claire Danes in the upcoming period drama, based on one young man’s experience with the legendary theatre star.

Speaking to DS at the film’s UK premiere, Linklater said: “Zac was the first guy I sat down with [for the role of Richard Samuels]. I’d only seen him in one movie – ‘Hairspray’ – and I just thought he was perfect. He’s really smart, he works hard and he has that innocence but knowing.”

Linklater added: “He’s a real leading man. He had to go toe-to-toe with Orson Welles and not get blown off the screen. It’s a testament to his charisma and screen presence that he pulls that off.” [Source]

American actor Zac Efron has admitted that he steals some of the costumes he wears in his movies. Efron, 22, says it has become a habit for him to take some of the items at the end of filming, and he particularly liked the plaid shirts he was given for his character in new movie ‘Me and Orson Welles’.

“I think I stole some of the stuff. Always, on the last day, they try and get it out of your trailer really quick,” Contactmusic quoted him as saying.

“Always steal some of your wardrobe. You never know what you’re going to need,” he added. [Source]

Zac Efron has always suited up and looked dapper on the red carpets of various events. The 22-year-old actor recently sat down with IESB to chat about his wardrobe, stealing a few things and Orson Welles. Check it.

On picking and choosing his wardrobe: “It’s all about accessories. I notice people that look good. I notice fashion on other people. I enjoy when people try to look their best. I was always taught to try and look my best. That’s my main influence. I’m not looking to influence fashion, any more than the next guy. But, I try to do my best when I’m out representing my movies.”

On taking things from his trailer: “I think I stole some of the stuff. On the last day, they always try to get it out of your trailer, really quick. I always steal some of my wardrobe. I never know what I’m going to need.”

On knowing Orson Welles pretty well: “I read the original book. For my age, I pretty much had the standard knowledge about Orson Welles. I studied him in high school, a little bit before that, and was familiar with a lot of his work, like the War of the Worlds radio broadcast. Coming into this, I thought I was pretty well-read on Orson and then immediately found out that I hadn’t even scratched the surface on this guy. Rick Linklater was the one who really filled us in and supplied us with endless literature, articles and old photos. I think I’ve seen every picture of Orson that ever existed.”

Zac’s new flick, “Me & Orson Welles,” opens in a limited release on Friday, November 25. [Source]

Zac Efron said he performed such an over-the-top audition as a child that he was asked to leave the room. The ‘High School Musical’ star – who plays a teenage student who, by luck, gets to work with a young Orson Welles in the new coming-of-age drama ‘Me and Orson Wells’ – said the try-out still haunts him now.

He said: “That was my first experience and I had just done the play ‘Peter Pan’ so I thought I was, I mean, who could be better. We were all quite young and I wasn’t even playing Peter I was playing John but I’d watched loads of actors play Peter so I showed up at the audition and I was dancing around and jumping off things and being crazy like lost boys you know. I ran around, I jumped up on my chair and started singing the lines and then she interrupted me, she goes, ‘You’ve never done this before have you?’ and I said, ‘no, not at all.’ And she said, ‘OK, you can go.’”

The 22-year-old actor – who is most famous for his roles in the ‘High School Musical’ films – admitted he broke down in tears after he was rejected.

He said: “It was completely my fault; I thought I was auditioning for the play. I kinda wept about that one.” [Source]

Zac Efron insists he’s happy that Robert Pattinson came on the showbiz scene – because now he can have a life! The “High School Musical” actor says he’s delighted to give way to the “Twilight” hunk because Pattinson deflects the attention away from him.

“It’s great because now I don’t get so much female attention,” Efron said. [Source]

Zac Efron is more than grateful for his fans everywhere, but sometimes it can be overwhelming. The 22-year-old actor revealed to Extra during promos for his upcoming drama, “Me & Orson Welles,” about the fan groups that would follow him and the other actors to set.

He shared, “The idea of going to a fairly secluded place and to fly away for a couple of weeks… I was so excited to leave all the attention behind. [But] we had a small crowd of young girls and boys hooraying us as we would drive up to set.”

Zac continued, “It’s incredibly endearing and cool that they would do that kind of thing for you. I’m very grateful. To be honest, I think our crew and the rest of the cast got a big kick out of it.”

“Me & Orson Welles” opens in limited release on Friday, November 25th. [Source]