By the pop-culture powers vested in us, we’re crowning Vanessa Hudgens the new queen of the rom-com. You probably first got to know her as Gabriella in the High School Musical trilogy, but Hudgens has since transformed her career with a wild turn in Spring Breakers, an action-packed, blood-soaked role in Machete Kills, and the star of non-high-school musicals Grease and RENT. But it’s her recent turns in rom-coms that seem to have connected the most with fans, and for good reason. She held her own against Jennifer Lopez in last year’s Second Act. And her memorable turns in Netflix original movies The Princess Switch and The Knight Before Christmas, which premieres today, stand out from the usual dime-a-dozen holiday movies that flood the market this time of year.
Both movies have also allowed Hudgens to show a balance humor, heart, empathy, and chemistry with her co-stars that keeps even the most far-fetched plot-lines and twists captivating. The Princess Switch proved to be so popular, in fact, that a sequel is in the works, with Hudgens on board as a producer. Movies like these are often written off as fluff, but Hudgens is here to change that. She says she’s not looking to reinvent the wheel—just elevate it, and have fun in the process.
Below, we talk with Hudgens about that, how she feels about her legacy being split between her High School Musical past and Netflix rom-com present, and more. Read on.
Glamour: We’ve crowned you the new queen of the Christmas romantic comedy, and—
Vanessa Hudgens: [Cheers] I love that! Thank you. What an honor.
Is there anyone you’d like to thank?
I would like to thank Netflix for making us all believe in the magic of the Christmas spirit and J.Lo for being such a staple in my romantic comedy viewing experience.
Did you get any advice from her during Second Act that you applied to your rom-coms?
She’s just her. She lives behind the camera and in front of it honestly and truthfully. I think that’s what so captivating about her. Just spending time with her as an individual and seeing the way that she lives her life was really wonderful and educational.
What’s your favorite J.Lo rom-com and your favorite scene?
The Wedding Planner. My mind instantly goes to her and Matthew McConaughey sitting on a log and then they danced because there’s music and it’s sad music and it’s really beautiful.
Netflix revealed some exiting news on Tuesday, October 29: A sequel to The Princess Switch, 2018’s breakout holiday rom-com starring Vanessa Hudgens, is in the works. The movie is set to premiere on Netflix in 2020, and Hudgens will return as the star and also a producer.
“Vanessa Hudgens returns as star & producer for The Princess Switch: Switched Again,” a tweet from the Netflix account @SeeWhatsNext reads. “In the sequel, Duchess Margaret unexpectedly inherits the throne & hits a rough patch with Kevin so it’s up to Stacy to save the day before a new lookalike — party girl Fiona — foils their plans.” It already sounds incredible.
See Netflix’s tweet announcing the news for yourself, below:
For those of you who forget The Princess Switch‘s original plot, it centers on an American baker, Stacy (Hudgens), who travels to the fictional country of Belgravia for a competition and discovers she bears a striking resemblance to one of its royals, Margaret Delacourt. The two women decide to switch places, and holiday-themed hijinks ensue. Ultimately, they both find love (Stacy with another royal, Prince Edward, and Margaret with Stacy’s friend, Kevin), and live happily ever after. But this new sequel implies there’s trouble in paradise.
In an interview with Glamour, Hudgens said that a sequel to The Princess Switch would probably include a third lookalike to create more drama. “Maybe there would a third twin,” she said. “Spruce things up a little bit. I have no idea. I’m going to leave that one up to the writers, but I know that I had so much fun doing it. The characters are so sweet that I would definitely be on board.
Here’s everything we know about the movie so far:
The release date. 2020. You can probably count on it dropping some time during the holiday season.
The director. Mike Rohl, who’s directed several TV show episodes for Shadowhunters and Supernatural, among others.
The screenwriters. Amanda Phillips Atkins, Eric Jarboe, and Robin Bernheim. All three served as producers on the original Princess Switch.
We’ll update this post with more information as it comes in.
The birth control pill is an an imperfect—though still awesome—invention. Even though it’s been one of the most popular birth control methods for decades, many women have a love-hate relationship with their pill. On top of the fact that the basic idea hasn’t changed since it first became a contraceptive option in the 1960s (three weeks of daily pills followed by an unnecessary placebo week—really?), side effects of the birth control pill range from annoying to truly problematic.
But not all versions of the pill affect women the same way. There are two main categories of birth control pills—combined hormonal pills, which contain doses of estrogen and progestin, and “mini pills,” or progestin-only pills—and the type you’re using matters. “Everyone’s body is different and can react differently to the pill depending on many factors—a big one being their own health history,” says Janell Sanford, Pharm.D, pharmacist in charge at The Pill Club. in other words, you might simply tolerate one form of the pill better than another.
So, how do you know when you need to switch? We asked the experts what’s normal, which side effects of the pill you should never put up with, and when it’s time to switch.
Anytime you tinker with your body’s hormonal balance, there are bound to be side effects. But the good news is, most of these are temporary, and will go away after your body has a couple of months to adjust, says Sanford. “For example, although weight gain is not a confirmed side effect of birth control, some pills can cause temporary water retention which feels like weight gain, and usually resolves after one, two, or even three cycles,” she says. Some of the most common side effects women report: spotting, mood changes and breast tenderness.
Other side effects are more serious. “The major health consequence of estrogen containing birth control pills is a slight increased risk of blood clots,” says Mary Jane Minkin, M.D., clinical professor of obstetrics, gynecology and reproductive sciences at Yale University School of Medicine. If you notice chest or leg pains, swelling or redness in your legs, shortness of breath, eye problems or blurry vision, call your doctor ASAP. Severe headaches or abdominal pain can also be a sign something more serious is going on, says Sanford. If you have a severe headache that doesn’t go away with over the counter painkillers or abdominal pain that doesn’t feel like your average cramp (and especially occurs on the upper right side of your stomach) let your doctor know.
If you notice any of the serious side effects above, talk to your doctor ASAP. For the more common—but still annoying—ills, here’s how to talk to your doctor about finding a better fit.
If you’re still spotting after a couple of months…Breakthrough bleeding is more likely to happen on lower-dose birth control pills. “Some women will develop spotting when they shouldn’t be bleeding,” says Dr. Minkin. “Switching it up to a slightly stronger pill [with a higher dose of hormones] might just be helpful.”
If your libido is tanking…The pill also has the potential to affect your sex drive. If you’ve noticed your libido feels lower since starting a new brand of birth control, Dr. Minkin recommends talking to your doctor about switching to a progestin levonorgestrel pill, which might be a better fit for your body.
If you’re getting headaches…If you’re getting low-grade headaches since starting a new pill, talk to your doctor about switching to pill with a lower dose of estrogen, says Dr. Minkin.
“I always encourage women to keep notes about what side effects you experience on which pill,” says Dr. Minkin. If your doc prescribes a new brand and you suddenly notice a change in your mood that wasn’t present with your last pill, for example tell her. Even if you’ve tried a few different pills and still don’t feel like you’ve found the right fit, these notes can be especially helpful to help your doctor help you figure out the right type of birth control for you. “For someone who has never taken a pill before, and is in good health, I would suggest starting with a pill with 20 micrograms of estrogen,” says Dr. Minkin. “And always discuss any concerns about side effects with your provider-who can guide you.”
In The Princess Switch, streaming on Netflix now, Vanessa Hudgens basically plays Meghan Markle before and after marrying into the royal family. One of her characters, Stacy, is a normal woman—a baker from Chicago—while the other is Margaret, Duchess of Montenaro. They look exactly the same and find each other when Stacy competes in a baking competition in the fictional kingdom of Belgravia.
When the two women switch places for a few days, it becomes a mashup of The Parent Trap, The Princess Diaries, The Holiday, and the royal wedding—all packed up in a sweeter-than-Stacy’s-cakes Christmas movie. So we rang up star Vanessa Hudgens to see just how in tune she was with Meghan Markle and Prince Harry’s romance, what the toughest part of being a royal would be for her, and how much she loved The Parent Trap. (No movie spoilers here, except that Vanessa definitely created a secret handshake that rivals Annie and butler Martin’s iconic one.)
PHOTO: Netflix
In America, a lot of people have become royal obsessed in the last few years. Did you follow Meghan Markle and Prince Harry’s journey?
Vanessa Hudgens: I definitely watched the royal wedding when I was in hair and makeup. But for me, the whole princess obsession kind of came from growing up on Disney movies. I grew up with all the classics, and I always fantasized about being a Disney princess.
Was there one that you really looked up to when you were a kid of in the Disney princess realm?
Hudgens: I loved Princess Jasmine because she was so spunky and such a free thinker. And she had a pet tiger. That’s pretty baller.
Did it feel good, in that kind of vein, to see a mainstream Christmas movie about a princess who isn’t white, for kids of color to look up to? Do you hope that that makes kids who want to be princesses be able to look up to you like they would to Jasmine?
__Hudgens:__Yes. Wow, I mean I hadn’t even really thought about that, but that is very special and an incredible responsibility. As people who are in the entertainment industry get to give, I feel like these characters are such fun, free thinking characters that are great role models for an ethnic younger audience. It’s just very special.
You mentioned that you watched the royal wedding in hair and makeup. Did you draw any inspiration there at all? Or think about the parallels between Meghan and Stacy?
Hudgens: It was definitely something that had crossed my mind for sure. But especially now that she’s royalty, you don’t necessarily get the biggest inside scoop. It’s more of a sight from a distance. So I got to kind of put myself in her shoes and see what that would look like for me as an actual reality, and as the full picture what that would feel like.
What would be the hardest rule for you to follow as a royal?
Hudgens: As silly as it seems, I feel like no Instagram. It’s the way that I keep up with my friends and my family and get to connect with my fans. It’s also a place that I pull a lot of inspiration for, whether that be hair and makeup looks or Halloween costumes or Christmas present ideas. Weaning myself off of that would be interesting.
PHOTO: Gabriel Hennessey
Royals aside, there’s such a great Parent Trap vibe in The Christmas Switch. Was that something that excited you when you first read the script?
Hudgens: Yeah, it was one of my favorites! Me and my sister [Stella] would act out the scenes from the movie and watch it over and over and over again, as kids do. It was just like such a classic staple in my household growing up that I was like, “Oh my gosh! This movie is just like it it!”
Did you pick a twin that you were when you played out the movie? Were you Hallie from Napa, or were you Annie from the U.K.?
Hudgens: We would just go back and forth, because we watched it so often and knew all the lines so well. We would just kind of fall into whatever felt right at the moment.
What was your favorite scene?
Hudgens: Probably the fencing scene, where they take off their helmets at the end, and they’re looking at each other. Then the realization scene where they show each other the photo of their mom and dad, and then they fit together perfectly. Like [doing perfect Lindsay Lohan impression] “That’s my mom!” and “That’s my dad!”
There is a great secret handshake in The Princess Switch that is reminiscent of the scene where Annie gets dropped off at camp. Did it take a lot of practice to perfect?
Hudgens: No. [Laughs] It literally was like that day of filming. My director, Mike, said we needed to figure out a handshake, so I went up the little girl I was doing it with and was like, “Do you have any ideas?” She’s like, “No.” I was like, “Girl, come on. Help me out here!” So the night before, I, of course, watched The Parent Trap. I was trying to figure out what they were doing and trying to pay homage to that somehow.
Do you have any secret handshakes in your life? Like with your sister or with your friends?
Hudgens: I don’t. I’m so boring! I guess me and my boyfriend [Austin Butler] kind of have one, where we walk past each other and do the high-five and then do the low high-five as we’re walking away, like behind the back. It’s kind of hard because he’s taller than me, but we’ve got a magnetic connection.
You’re such a talented singer. You kind of sing in the movie, but just in the background at the end. Would you do a full rom-com original musical if someone pitched it to you?
Hudgens: Yes, of course. I love musicals. Musicals are like my home. Any time that I get to be on set and sing and act and dance, I am by far my happiest self. So I am always for a musical, never against it. I grew up doing musical theater and kind of found my own two feet through being on the stage. So if there’s like a new, original musical that is happening, I would definitely be the first to jump on board. But of course, there’s so many classics as well, especially on Broadway. To me, it’s always about timing. If the time is right, it feels good, I’m there for it.
Do you think there should be a sequel to The Princess Switch? If so, what would you like to see?
Hudgens: I honestly don’t even know where it would go, because we already got our happy endings. We’d have to create more conflict, or maybe there would a third twin. Spruce things up a little bit. I have no idea. I’m going to leave that one up to the writers, but I know that I had so much fun doing it. The characters are so sweet that I would definitely be on board.
