Celebrity Mound

High School Musical star Ashley Tisdale looks raring to go in her new project – revealing her toned and tanned body on the set of cheerleading drama Hellcats.

In the show, the 24-year-old star plays Sierra Sloan, the captain of competitive cheerleading squad.

Described as ‘peppy and petite’ with ‘fierce intensity’, Sierra clashes with the star of the show Marty Perkins, played by Aly Michalka.

Filming early this morning in Vancouver, Canada, Tisdale was preparing for one of the more physical scenes of the highschool drama.

She has clearly been getting herself into shape, and her enthusiasm for the role can be seen by the number of exclamation marks in her regular Twitter updates, the last of which – before this morning’s shoot – being: ‘Hellcats!! Shooting my big cheer number today!!!!’

Despite commenting on early starts and long hours (‘Haven’t been up this early in a looonnng time’), she also admits that it’s ‘so much fun’.

The new show, being filmed for the CW Television Network, revolves around Marty – a girl from the wrong side of the tracks who loses her education scholarship and joins the Hellcats in a bid to stay at school.

Ashley’s Sierra clashes with the ‘wicked smart’ Marty but then realises that the squad needs her to win.

The show is due to be aired next year.

Ashley Tisdale and actor Aaron Paul

Jordana Brewster

High School Musical star Ashley Tisdale took a break from her singing career to enjoy a break poolside in Mexico.

The actress turned singer who shot to fame as part of the wildly successful High School Musical films topped up her tan in a hippie-style purple and white bikini tie-dye bikini yesterday.

Ashley, 24, was soaked up in the sun while on holiday in Mexico with her family and boyfriend.

Showing off her petite athletic figure, the 5’3″ star worked on her tan as she sipped frozen cocktails.

Tisdale has credited a combination of pilates and boxing with helping her keep in shape.

She said: ‘I always make time for it, because not only is it healthy for you, but it also relieves my stress. I’m so busy doing stuff and I get stressed a lot that working out takes me away from that.’

She also regularly visits the gym with her close friend and High School Musical co-star Vanessa Hudgens.

She explained: ‘Vanessa and I always have so much fun working out together. It’s definitely fun to hang out with your girlfriends, and to go workout. Especially when it’s an early-morning class.

It appeared purple bikinis are the beachwear of choice for celebrities staying in the Mexican resort of Cabo San Lucas at the moment – Jennifer Aniston has been photographed wearing the same colour a few hotels away.

Currently enjoying a break between gigs, Tisdale whisked her parents, siblings and video director boyfriend Scott Speer away to Mexico.

Writing on her Twitter micro-blogging page three days ago, she enthused: ‘On vaca! Cabo San Lucas here I come!

She is expected to return to Los Angeles on Saturday for her gig at The Citadel.

Tisdale is currently carving a name for herself in more adult TV and film roles after playing spoilt teen Sharpay Evans in the HSM series.

She has also been promoting her latest single Crank It Up, from her second album Guilty Pleasure.

(source)