Vanessa Hudgens was 'fed up' with girls chasing after ex Zac Efron

LOS ANGELES, April 1 (UPI) -- Vanessa Hudgens was the subject of a recent New York Times article about her starring role in the Broadway version of Gigi, but fans of the former Disney Channel star were perhaps more interested to hear what she had to say about her relationship with on-and-off screen beau Zac Efron.

"I went through a phase when I was really mean because I was so fed up," Hudgens said when asked about her High School Musical co-star.

"Girls were running after him, and I was giving them death stares," she admitted, adding that things have changed a lot since their relationship ended in 2010. "Then I realized that's not what that's about. 'Spread the love, be a good person, they support you, be nice,'" she says of fans.

Hudgens, 26, is currently dating and reportedly living with actor-model Austin Butler, 23. Having survived the transition from child-star to actress, the Gimme Shelter star has been enjoying her ride on Broadway.

"It just feels like there's a massive shift happening," she says. "Once again finding myself on the stage, as I did when I was a little girl, makes me go: 'Oh my God, this is what I want. This is what I want to keep doing.'"