Vanessa Hudgens lived in homeless shelter for two weeks to prepare for film

Vanessa Hudgens sure has come a long way since her High School Musical years, and we’re not just talking about how she’s no longer with Zac Efron.

Us Weekly reported the Journey 2: The Mysterious Island star went on the Rachael Ray Show to promote her latest film, but it was another film that stole the spotlight.

The 23-year-old talked to host Rachael Ray about how she prepared for her role as a pregnant homeless teenager in Gimme Shelter, which also stars Rosario Dawson and Brandon Fraser.

"For Gimme Shelter, my character ends up at this pregnant, homeless teen shelter that's actually ran in New Jersey by a woman and I actually went and stayed in the shelter for two weeks before I started filming, so I mean like, I lived there with all the girls, with all the kids, so I think that it's really interesting because you find so much more about yourself," Hudgens said.

According to E! Online, the actress also cut her own hair for the movie, turning her long black locks into a messy, shaggy do.

She added that both she and Dawson, who plays Hudgens’ abusive, on-screen mother, “look so messed up in this movie.”

The full interview airs Friday.