TRENDING

Editor's Note: This interview was conducted prior to the start of the SAG-AFTRA strike.

Julia Lester's life is kind of overflowing with amazing things right now. In addition to her starring role on High School Musical: The Musical: The Series (season four drops on Disney+ this summer), she's fresh off rave reviews for her run in the recent Broadway revival of Into the Woods. And she's giving off a love glow so bright it might actually be visible from outer space, courtesy of her girlfriend, HSMTMTS writer Ilana Wolpert.

You might assume that Julia, 23, has been in full Taylor Swift "Mastermind" mode for months (year, even) to get the life she's currently enjoying, but that's really not her vibe. Like a true Aquarius, Julia's generally happier going with the flow and letting her intuition guide her because, as she explains, she's "a little bit psychic."

"My sister Jenny has always told me that, which I absolutely believe," Julia shares. When pressed for more details on her psychic powers, Julia explains that it's about trusting her gut, especially when it comes to making career decisions. 

"My intuition really works in my favor," she explains. "When an opportunity presents itself, I'll sometimes get a strong sense of 'this is right for me' or 'I belong here.'" For example, Julia immediately felt that HSMTMTS was a place she would thrive. What she didn't predict? That the show would eventually introduce her to her girlfriend, Ilana, who joined as a writer in season two. 

@julialester

"We're obsessed with each other," Julia gushes about their relationship, which started as a friendship before evolving into something more. "I always felt so connected to my character when Ilana was the one writing her. Most of the episodes where I felt the most authentically myself and the most authentically Ashlyn, Ilana wrote—and that was even before I knew we would end up together."

Joining HSMTMTS didn't just lead Julia to a loving relationship—it brought her to her tribe (aka the rest of the cast), whom she calls "some of her best friends in the entire world." Behind the scenes, the cast members act like true theater kids, always singing, playing instruments and being told they need to be quiet on set.

@julialester

"The show brought us together, and now we're each other's people," explains Julia. "We have the best time."

Finding her people *and* finding her person? We think it's safe to say Julia's psychic sense keeps finding ways to remind her that her life is going exactly in the right direction.

🎶 JULIA'S LIFE SOUNDTRACK 🎶

Here are just a few songs that have been dominating Julia's day-to-day...

Favorite road trip song: "Ilana and I did a lot of road trips to and from Utah during season four, and we love the Midnights album from Taylor Swift. We love 'Mastermind' and 'Karma.'"

Favorite audition song: "I sang 'Gravity' by Sara Bareilles for my High School Musical audition—and that was actually the birth of Ashlyn being interested in Sara Bareilles and her songwriting. It really influenced so much of where my character ended up being."

Favorite duet song: "I think this dates all the way back to season one—me and Joe Serafini love to sing 'A Safe Place to Land' by John Legend and Sara Bareilles. That's been a duet the two of us have sung together for like, literally four years."

Hey, girl! Just wanted to let you know that this story originally ran in our August/September 2023 issue. Want more? Read the print mag for free *today* when you click HERE.

Follow Julia on IG @julialester and share all your HSMTSTS predictions with us on Twitter @girlslifemag!

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Top and slider images: Carell Augustus/Disney.

by Kayleigh Roberts | 8/9/2023