Vanessa Hudgens knows how to keep a secret.
The actress won “The Masked Singer,” which aired on FOX on Wednesday night, and admitted that while it was tough keeping everything a secret backstage, she liked the anonymity of performing behind a mask.
“Being recognized purely for your talent is so much more fulfilling than being recognized as a celebrity,” she told Fox News Digital. “I feel like celebrity is a big thing these days, especially on social media, but talent should come first because it's so much more fulfilling.”
For Hudgens, whose career began with her breakout role in High School Musical, taking home the Golden Mask trophy was a crowning moment.
Vanessa Hudgens competed on season 11 of The Masked Singer and took home the Golden Mask trophy. (Michael Becker/FOX)
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“For me personally, this really ranks high because it has absolutely nothing to do with the celebrity 'Vanessa Hudgens.' [and] “It's not about anything that's attached to a name,” she said of the place the award holds in her life, “it has everything to do with what I personally bring inside with my soul and my talent, so to be awarded for something that is literally inside is the most amazing thing.”
But one thing she's willingly kept secret is her pregnancy with MLB star husband Cole Tucker.
Hudgens told Fox News Digital that she's focused on keeping her pregnancy mostly private because “I feel like as an actress, you end up revealing a lot about yourself.” (Taylor Hill/Getty Images)
“My pregnancy is something that I've kept private for a long time now, and as an actress, I think you end up putting a lot of yourself out there, so this has been a really nice change,” she told Fox News Digital.
WATCH: “The Masked Singer” winner Vanessa Hudgens explains why she's keeping her pregnancy “top secret”
Hudgens first showed off her baby bump at the Oscars in March, before she was in the early stages of pregnancy while filming Bad Boys 2 with Will Smith and Martin Lawrence.
“I actually had most of the stunt work done before I came back for reshoots, but where there's a will, there's a way and production always finds a way,” she told Fox News Digital with a laugh.
Hudgens first showed off her pregnant belly at the Academy Awards in March. (Jeff Kravitz/FilmMagic)
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“I think what 'Bad Boys' has always offered to audiences is big action and big comedy, and this movie doesn't disappoint,” she said. “It really offers that relationship that everyone knows and loves between the characters of Will and Martin, and that empathy that they have for each other is really amazing and unique and beautiful, and it's really always big and wonderful, so I think everyone is really going to enjoy it.”
Hudgens said “Bad Boys 2,” starring Will Smith (left) and Martin Lawrence, “will not disappoint.” (Eric Charbonneau/Getty Images for Sony Pictures)
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Meanwhile, Hudgens is still basking in the joy of winning The Masked Singer.
“It was incredible and it ended up having a much deeper meaning than I ever thought it would,” she said.
“After all my years in Hollywood, it's really rare to get the opportunity to go into a job anonymously. I'm really goofy and I laugh at myself for being so stupid. But to have the freedom to do that without people knowing who I am and just live my best life is amazing. It was so thrilling to be able to get on stage and perform and take home the win, not to mention do something I've loved and enjoyed so much for decades.”
Hudgens starred as Goldfish in season 11, beating out other stars including Kevin Hart, Jenifer Lewis, Corey Feldman, Clay Aiken, Ruben Studdard and Chrissy Metz.
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WATCH: 'The Masked Singer' winner Vanessa Hudgens explains why winning season 11 was a 'profound' moment for her
Even though the costume was made up of multiple layers and elements, it wasn't difficult to play the role of a Goldfish.
“The costumes themselves were really impressive. I was really blown away by the artistry that the costume department created behind the scenes. My costume alone had like six layers total and even the masks are works of art. It was really, really incredible to see them come to life from sketches,” she said.
According to Hudgens, the Goldfish costume had “six layers” and she was “blown away by the artistry” of it. (Michael Becker/FOX)
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While Hudgens hasn't been particularly private about her pregnancy or the details of her personal life, she did admit that she hopes to socialize with the other contestants behind the scenes.
“I really tried to get them to change things up, and I was like, 'Look, I think if we could let the contestants get to know each other, it would be this really amazing communal experience, because we're all going through the same thing and we can rely on each other and it would create an amazing community!' And they were like, 'No,' and I was like, 'Okay, never mind,'” she said, laughing.
“I tried really hard to follow along, to pick up on the clues, to hear what they were saying, but I didn't get any of it right,” Hudgens admitted.
The 35-year-old's collaborative spirit was reflected in her non-competitive approach to the show, focusing instead on delivering something special for her fans and herself.
Hudgens said her fans “wanted to hear more music from her” so performing on “The Masked Singer” was a way to make them and herself proud. (Michael Becker/FOX)
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“Honestly, I didn't see it as a competition. I just thought my fans wanted more music and more vocals, so I was going to do it for them,” Hudgens said. “I'm also my own toughest critic, and I'm going to be my toughest critic of anyone, so I'm just going to make myself proud, make everybody proud, do my best, and see where it goes from there.”
