Zac Efron Supports the Troops in 'The Lucky One'

me sing happy birthday and then they sang said, can you read these lyrics and and sing this song? I was like, yeah, I heard it outside. I can do it. So I just sang it for him. And they go, okay, we're not supposed to do this, but you got the part.

How was uh Kids Choice Awards? You just had a fun little weekend by that.

Dude, it was fun. It was really fun. I saw a lot of great people. I got to present with Kiki.

Nice. We just had Kiki in the studio. She was here a couple weeks ago.

She's awesome, man. We've known each other for a long time. It's weird. We're both like growing up. It's crazy. Yeah. We're both like, man, what's Kids Choice Awards again? It's it's nuts. Saw Will Smith, talked to Robert Downey Jr. backstage and um those are those moments when you just kind of pinch yourself, you know.

Right. Kids Choice Awards are always the coolest. I don't know why.

They are, right?

And now, you know, talking about growing up. The lucky one. I mean, that that's a big departure here. Marine. just found it. Like I was meant to. In the film, the the picture was obviously the pivotal point that you know, really changed your life. Is there something in in real life that that's ever happened to you that was sort of that pivotal point that that really changed things?

Uh the one that stands out the most for me is probably the the very first audition I did. You know. That that that is still to this day the scariest moment of my life.

What happened?

The the way a theater audition works is you you go in um there's a lot of other guys there that are your competition that look somewhat extra imposing because they're your competition, you know. I'd never done anything. I never sang or danced for anyone before. I was embarrassed. It wasn't cool at that point. Um So I went in and and they they said, you know, can you sing this note? Um I sang it. And then they had me sing happy birthday. And then they sang said, can you read these lyrics and and sing this song? I was like, yeah, I heard it outside. I can do it. So I just sang it for them. And they go, okay, we're not supposed to do this, but you got the part. Wow. I was like, I haven't even danced yet. I'll never forget it, man. Like butterflies where your heart's going to jump out of. You know when your heart's just going to jump out. Your hands don't work and you're sweating and you black out. I still do that sometimes when I go on stage.

You really? Oh, yeah. You wouldn't think. Now, you you've been doing this so long that

I know. Still get the nerves sometimes. Oh, it's the best part, man. Hey, you ought to listen to me. You don't know who you're dealing with. No, I know exactly who I'm dealing with. I've known guys like you my whole life. You think a gun and a badge and a name make you something because you carry him. You better watch your mouth. I'm done talking to you.

What was the biggest takeaway from Camp Pendleton, though? That's like a pretty cool place to get to check out.

From Camp Pendleton, uh the biggest takeaway. I think there's just an element of of our generation, uh I feel very removed from the war, you know. I feel like I'm I'm at home at uh living very comfortably, but, you know, we forget about our troops who are out there on the front lines. Right. Um protecting us, you know. Um protecting our freedoms. And when I went to Pendleton, it it just it it became real in a way that I'd never thought it would. Yeah, it had this gravity, this weight to it. These guys were my age. They were young. But they were heroes. They'd been in warm back. 22. Sorry. Um So it's yeah, it was insane. It was insane.

Was there any part in in this film, any scene you had to do that made you a little nervous?

Films different because of the preparation. So it's not that in it's not that I'm about to go on stage kind of nervous. Um But I I was apprehensive for other reasons. I mean, Uh just playing the strong silent type and and uh Really, it is Amore is a big deal, you know. These are real life heroes. Uh I'm not, you know. I I wanted to I wanted to do my absolute best job though at portraying when accurately and and I I pray to God at the end of the day, what would make me the most proud is that these guys, marine, actually see the film and and say that that I did right by them.

Well, Zach, thank you for coming and hanging out with us. The lucky one. Y'all need to make sure you go check it out. You do.