GALLERY >> 5 Things You Need To Know About Maika Monroe

So, who’s the latest lady to lock lips with Zac Efron? Well, we can tell you that it’s Maika Monroe, who accompanied Zac on the red carpet this weekend.

But before hordes of teenage girls (and more than a few non-teenage girls) get up in arms about the High School Musical heart throb’s ‘new lady’, we ought to point out that Zac and Maika have been kissing for purely professional reasons. And doing some acting too!

Maika looked stunning at the Venice Film Festival in a white feathery Marchesa gown, as her and Zac promoted their new movie At Any Price. In the film the two play love interests and although Zac may be the bigger celeb now, we think Maika could soon give him a run for his money. Coming soon, the Californian native has a part in Sofia Coppola’s new film The Bling Ring, acting alongside Emma Watson and Kirsten Dunst. She will also appear in Labor Day which stars Kate Winslet and Tobey Maguire.

So what are the five things you need to know about this up-and-coming actress? Click through the gallery to find out!

By Stephanie Soh

1. She’s only just left high-school

18 year-old Maika graduated from Santa Barbara High School in 2011 – a year on, and she’s already starring alongside some of Hollywood’s biggest A-Listers. Now those are some serious career prospects.

2. She’s always been a big fan of The Efron

Before she got the chance to act beside him, Maika had always been a big fan of Zac’s. Speaking about her friends’ reaction to her bagging the role, Maika says "They were just freaking out. Because all of my friends, we would always watch the High School Musical movies and get all of the magazines, and I was actually going to be filming with him. And not just filming with him but playing his girlfriend!" Teenage dreams do come true!

3. She’s a wannabe Olympian

Maika got the call to meet the director of At Any Price whilst she was living in the Dominican Republic, training to be a professional kiteboarder. She’s even got her sights set on the 2016 Olympics – that is, if kiteboarding makes it as one of Rio's Olympic games. Fingers crossed!

4. She’s also a fashion designer

As if Maika doesn’t have enough strings to her bow, she’s also a bit of a fashion designer. Maika’s sponsored by Airbound Apparel who specialise in beach and kiteboarding clothes, and has been designing the women’s line for them. Fashion designer, actress and kiteboarder – what a triple-threat.