Lucas Grabeel combined his heart-throb looks and charming personality, with a determination to constantly develop himself both personally and professionally. Lucas won our hearts in all the High School Musicals (OMG and can he sing and dance) playing Ryan Evans, Ashley Tinsdale's (Sharpay) twin... and now, fortunately, we can tune in to watch him in ABC Family's "Switched at Birth."

The Global Townhall is thrilled to welcome Lucas Grabeel for Part 1 of our 2 part interview.  So grab some of the thoughts that helped launch him into our homes and movie theaters around the globe.

Gabrielle Reilly:  I love how positive your Twitter page is with all the videos and clips!

Lucas Grabeel:  When I got a Twitter account it was only for the fans, I didn't understand at first why a person would tell people they are getting a coffee.  Most of my fans are so positive and they are so good to me.  I try to turn it back around and give back as much as I receive it.

Gabrielle Reilly:   Well, your fans obviously love it!  For all the people who love to video blog and use web cams, what tip can you give them about shooting in front of the camera?

Lucas Grabeel:  Honesty is always the best policy.  The more authentic you are, the more you can connect with people.  We see through the BS really easy as audience members.  Whenever you try and "put on" something or act like your someone that you're not, then that is when the authenticity fails and people start checking out and not checking in.


Gabrielle Reilly:  So when you are "acting" how do you prepare to get into character to be authentic?

Lucas Grabeel:  It depends on the character.  The closer the character could be to myself, then obviously the easier it is.  With "Switched at Birth" it is very easy, I just think back to what it was like when I was 17.  I try to be myself and not sound like I'm reading lines off a paper but am just talking normally.  It is harder when it is a character that is much different to me.  I have to have a sense of commitment to the character and not worry about sounding or looking like an idiot.  So hopefully it comes off as authentic and real, instead of created.

Gabrielle Reilly: What is your favorite guy beauty tip?

Lucas Grabeel:  I used to just wash my face every day and that is all I would do, until a makeup artist once told me you HAVE to use lotion if you want to look younger for the rest of your life.  I still play a 17 year old on camera so I think it has paid off.

Gabrielle Reilly:  Well how old are you if you don't mind me asking?
Lucas Grabeel: I will be 27 next month.

Gabrielle Reilly:  REALLY??? Well heck, what lotion are you using?

Lucas Grabeel:  That's the thing; I don't think it really matters about all this fancy schmancy stuff, just use something without a lot of chemicals.  I switch it up with whatever is in front of me.

Gabrielle Reilly:  What advice can you offer people on emotionally handling the word "no" both in the industry and life?

Lucas Grabeel:  There is no mistaking that it is hard, no matter how hard you think you can mentally prepare yourself for something like that.  It is not the word "no" that gets you down; it's just not hearing anything. 

Especially going through life as an actor you never really know when your next job will be.  No matter if High School Musical was the last movie you did, you are just constantly looking and waiting.  I need to focus on right now and live in the moment.  Being happy right now is all that really matters.  I don't need to worry about tomorrow just yet.   I need to prepare myself for it, but I can't sit back and worry about it. 

What I've been doing for the last 8 years in LA is constantly pushing myself forward.  Thinking about how I can make myself better as a person, and an actor, and a story teller and a musician.  You never really know when opportunity is going to land right in front of you so you have to be prepared for it at all times.  At the same time if you sit around waiting for it, it may never come.  Live life as you want to live it, and if opportunity comes, you will be ready for it.

Gabrielle Reilly:  Like that saying "luck is when preparation meets opportunity." 

Maddie:  So what is your shooting schedule for "Switched at Birth?"

Lucas Grabeel:   We are shooting 22 episodes, 5 days a week, from now until next July with a few breaks squeezed in.   Depending on how many scenes, I usually shoot 3 to 4 days a week.   An average day can last 12 hours or a little less.

Maddie:  What is favorite thing about shooting it?

Lucas Grabeel:  Well I love being here in LA.  For so long I worked on films that always had me travelling and shooting in different locations.  Which is really great getting to different areas of the country and world, but it is nice to come back to my own bed every night after working... and getting to hang out with my friends.


Gabrielle Reilly:  And how did you find Australia when you visited?

Lucas Grabeel:  I love Australia, I only have been there once and it was a sad situation because I was there with High School Musical and we just worked the whole time.  We were in the hotel and TV studios the whole time.  We didn't get a chance to see everything.  We went whale watching one day and went to a winery to watch Elton John which was the extreme highlight of the trip.  We were in Sydney and Melbourne.  It was one of the top 5 concerts I've ever been to in my life.  Elton was just there by himself with his piano enjoying a glass of wine.   Aussie's are great people.

Gabrielle Reilly:  Well thanks so much Lucas, I really enjoyed chatting with you.

Stay tuned for Part 2 of our interview on celebrity partying and how to make it in Hollywood.