Teenagers clamour for High School Musical stars

The O2 Arena in London was today awash with squealing teenagers desperate to catch a glimpse of their young idols at the European Premiere of High School Musical 2.

Chants of “I want Zac” could be heard well over an hour before there was any sign of the young star whose picture now adorns the bedroom walls of teenage girls across the globe.

But despite the frenzy and adulation, the actors and actresses showed no sign that fame had gone to their heads.

Ryan Evans (Lucas) said: “It’s really crazy and slightly unnerving, to be honest.”

He continued: “Last night we went to the Prince concert (held in O2 Arena) and it was amazing. I was there as a fan and I felt what all these people feel being here now, it’s fantastic and so great to be part of it.”

The fresh faced actors admitted they had been somewhat unprepared for the storm of interest generated by the film.

But they have taken to their new-found positions as role models with alacrity.

Vanessa Hudgens, 18, (Gabriella) – rumoured to be dating co-star Zac Efron - said she found her fame “kind of crazy”.

She added: “It’s overwhelming sometimes but it’s great to be here. I’d like to say to my fans that they should never give up on their dreams.”

The film’s eldest star Monique Coleman, 26, (Taylor) remains down to earth and insisted: “I’m just a regular girl.”

She said: “I’m just me, I wake up every day and brush my teeth, for me it’s really about the fans and this moment which changes their lives.”

Addressing fans, eager to follow in her footsteps, she said: “Work really hard at it. You must realise that being a celebrity isn’t an occupational choice. You have to do something specific, don’t just go out there trying to be a celebrity because you can take your clothes off to do that. That’s not how we got here.”

Screams reached fever pitch as the film’s star Zac Efron stepped onto the carpet to greet fans before he was whisked away as hordes of teenagers became increasingly over excited.

Fans, many wearing cheerleader costumes and waving red pom-poms, remained in the arena long after the stars had disappeared.

Isis Gouveia, 12, and her sister Armani, 11, said all they wanted was a chance to meet their role models and they had got that today.

One mother said: “There’s nothing in the movie that makes me feel uneasy. I think the actors make good role models for the children.

“In this day and age, when teenagers are exposed to so much that is provocative, this make a nice change.”

The 90-minute film will premiere on Friday September 21 at 6pm.

In the United States the debut of High School Musical 2 became the most watched basic cable broadcast ever when it was screened on August 17 with 17.2 million viewers.