ZAC EFRON joined forces with CLAIRE DANES and director RICHARD LINKLATER in Washington, D.C. on Tuesday (10Nov09) to appeal to the government for more arts funding in public schools.The three stars, currently promoting new movie Me and Orson Welles, met with officials from President Barack Obama's administration at the White House to campaign on behalf of the Americans for the Arts organization. Among the government representatives they met with was actor-turned-political adviser Kal Penn, who quit Hollywood to work with Obama in July (09). And Efron was full of praise for civil servants, saying: "I admire anyone who has devoted their lives to public service."

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COURTENEY COX had to console her five-year-old daughter after a surprise meeting with ZAC EFRON - because the tot was left "traumatized" by the handsome Hollywood hunk.The former Friends star arranged for boy-crazy Coco to meet the High School Musical star after realizing her little girl had developed a crush on the teen idol. But Courteney Cox was left stunned when her daughter was crippled by shyness as she stood before her musical hero - and ran into another room to escape Zac Efron's beaming smile. She explains, "Coco gets these huge crushes on people. One day we decided to surprise her and invite Zac Efron over. We didn't tell her he was coming - she just loves him. We had a video camera up and we told her to close her eyes, (then said) 'Open them now!' She freaked out. She was traumatized and ran to her room... She was like, 'Oh no! I don't want to go out there!' I was trying to help her and she said, 'Well, it's his face!'" However Courteney Cox, who is married to David Arque...

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ZAC EFRON has been hit by a lawsuit three years after allegedly causing a three-vehicle pile up in Los Angeles.Katie Porter claims she was rear ended by a taxi, which was shunted by the vehicle the High School Musical star was driving back in 2006. The plaintiff states she has spent the past three years fighting for damages with the insurance companies, and she's had enough. Porter's mum tells TMZ.com the firms behind each of the drivers is claiming the other is responsible for repair costs. The alleged crash victim wants $1,200 for repair costs and $400 for a rental car. Her father, who lives in Oklahoma, is also suing for plane and motel costs.

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Hollywood heart-throb ZAC EFRON is snipping away at his teen idol image - buy chopping off his trademark floppy locks.The High School Musical star is keen to shed his matinee idol image, and wants to move away from the clean-cut movie parts that made him famous. And the formerly floppy-haired hunk is slowly snipping away at his pretty boy reputation - after showing up on the set of his new movie with a shorter, sleeker crop. The image overhaul may have something to do with Efron's forthcoming big screen venture - he is set to star in a "sexy thriller" from the writer of The Thomas Crown Affair.

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ZAC EFRON has made a new Time magazine list of the world's most influential people - alongside President BARACK OBAMA, GEORGE CLOONEY, BONO and OPRAH WINFREY. Zac Efron, who shot to fame in Disney's High School Musical franchise, has made his first entry in Time magazine's annual list of the planet's top 100 influential figures.   And his Me And Orson Welles co-star Claire Danes is adamant the 21 year old is worthy of the honour, comparing him to Leonardo DiCaprio.   Claire Danes, who starred with Leonardo DiCaprio in Romeo + Juliet, tells the magazine: "(Working with Zac) I couldn't help being reminded of the time I had spent with another gifted idol, Leonardo DiCaprio, about a decade before. I saw the simmering ardour of the teenage masses turn into unbridled hysteria after Titanic was released. But this was even more intense. The difference, I realised, was that Zac is not only an actor but also a musician, a bona fide song-and-dance man. We ladies are defenc...

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Heartthrob ZAC EFRON is ready to ditch his pretty boy image and star as a crime fighter in a big screen cop drama. The actor is frustrated he only gets offered roles in teen comedies and musicals - but accepts he needs to earn the right to get meatier parts.   Zac Efron tells GQ magazine "A guy I worked with recently told me, 'You have to earn the right to hold a gun.' And that completely made sense. Can you imagine me running around with a gun in a film?   "I noticed the second I started that the things you want to be involved with are always just out of reach. Most parts you'd want, people won't really consider you for, because you have to earn that respect."

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ZAC EFRON will eat almost anything for $20 - and boasts about scoffing bugs and slimy seafood. The always hungry High School Musical hunk insists very little is disgusting to his palate - and he'll try anything once.   He says, "In Mexico I had crickets... It's like a dish over there... It was like the most expensive thing on the menu.   "And also they have larvae, the flies... It's great, it's really good. It's lemon and salt. It tasted like pasta."   And he puts his adventurous tastebuds down to culinary dares his dad set him when he was a kid: "My dad always took me to get sushi and one time we were in San Francisco... and there was this octopus - it was, like, alive, wiggling on the plate.   "My dad was all, 'I'll give you $20 if you eat that.' I was like, 'Bring it on, man.' So I ate it. It was like a cherry tomato. It popped. It was great... I'd still eat about anything for $20."

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HIGH SCHOOL MUSICAL star ZAC EFRON dreads running into ANGELINA JOLIE on the red carpet - because he gets tongue-tied whenever he is around the Hollywood beauty. The 21-year-old has met the Tomb Raider star on several occasions and admits he always gets embarrassed when she tries to strike up a conversation with him.   He says, "(I always) screw up. I don't know why. It's just awkward. I can't really explain it. Last time I saw her was at the Oscars. She asked how I was doing. I said, 'Thank you' then turned around and walked away. Everyone started laughing and pointing at me."

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ZAC EFRON has no plans to follow his HIGH SCHOOL MUSICAL co-stars ASHLEY TISDALE and CORBIN BLEU into the music industry anytime soon - because he refuses to sing tunes written and produced by other people. The Hollywood heartthrob has shown off his vocal talents in the hit Disney film franchise and in his role as Link Larkin in 2007's movie adaptation of Hairspray.   But he admits he would only consider releasing an album after he's learned how to write and produce songs on his own - so fans can connect with the real Efron.   He tells People.com, "I'm not going to pretend that I'm a music prodigy. I would want an album to come from me, not from writers or other producers. I definitely don't possess those skills."   But Efron insists he's too busy to pursue a singing career just now. He adds, "Right now, I just don't have the time."

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Teen heartthrob ZAC EFRON shuns the Hollywood nightlife in favour of dancing with his beloved grandmother. The High School Musical star, 21, admits he isn't a big fan of clubbing like his Hollywood peers and would rather spend some quality time with his friends and relatives - particularly his grandmother.   He tells People.com, "I'm not really into partying. Don't get me wrong - I've gone to a club. But I'd much rather be with my close friends at home or a concert, or on a trip.   "I'll go dancing with my grandma. She likes to cut a rug!"

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