Vanessa Hudgens shares the 'Second Act' in her own career ahead of new movie with Jennifer Lopez

“High School Musical” star Vanessa Hudgens has graduated to the big screen, starring alongside the one-and-only J. Lo in the new movie “Second Act.”

Hudgens said working with real-life best friends Leah Remini and Jennifer Lopez was “hysterical.”

“I love them so much,” Hudgens told ABC News. “What you see in the film is what they are in real life.”

As Lopez has continued to grow and reinvent herself, Hudgens said she sees the star as both a peer and someone to look up to.

“I think a little bit of both, for sure. I have grown to just love her as a friend,” she added.

Hudgens described her on-screen persona in the film, Zoe, as “a little bitter and quite harsh with J. Lo.”

In reading the role, she thought to herself, "’Girl, just be nice to J. Lo. Come on.’"

The title of the film is a relatable one for Hudgens, who said she has had experienced her own real-life second act.

“I feel like after ‘High School Musical’ it was an interesting time because I was overwhelmed with this worldwide success,” Hudgens said. “I got to kind of have my second act and go off and do these dark, independent films, and, I feel like, kind of change the mold and perception that people had of me.”

Hudgens said she thinks others will be inspired by the notion that “it’s never too late to make a change.”

"It's such an amazing story that hopefully will inspire women to lift each other up and -- and to take a chance to look inwards and figure out if they are truly happy with their lives. And if they're not, to do something about it. It's never too late to make a change in your course of life," she added.

"Second Act" hits theaters nationwide on December 21st.