Zac Efron says he “neglected” his personal life for years while focusing on work, and now wants happiness in both his professional and personal life. He also insists he won’t trade mental health for physical transformation again, as he prepares to build a sust
Zac Efron used to measure his life in work. Now, he’s measuring it in rest.
The 38-year-old actor says he’s spent too long chasing career momentum while letting his personal life slide. telling Heat magazine: “It’s taken me a while to get there. but my biggest motivation is to be happy in both my professional and personal life. For too long, I only focused on work and I neglected my personal life.”.
His shift isn’t just about changing schedules. It’s about changing what he’s willing to sacrifice. Efron also insists he’s “never going to sacrifice” his mental health to shape his body for a role again, after previously suffering to get a “beach body” for his Baywatch movie.
“I think men, just like women, have to be realistic. The shape I was in for Baywatch, wasn’t sustainable. I wasn’t happy living the way I was to get in that shape. These days, I place a much bigger priority on my mental health.”
That new priority is showing up in how he talks about his future, too. His comments come after it was revealed he’s been busy building his dream home in Australia—work that’s become part of his idea of happiness and mental space.
Efron is working with designer Joost Bakker on a sustainable property in the countryside close to Byron Bay in New South Wales. He bought a 128-hectare plot of land in 2020, and the house is set to be mostly made from hemp. The plan includes six bedroom “pods” and a rooftop garden.
Efron said he bought the land on the advice of fellow actor Russell Crowe. He told the Australian Financial Review: “Russell Crowe told me it’s a good idea to get land in Australia; he did it when he was young. and it was one of the things he told me he is extremely proud of that decision. “It set him up really well for the future, and it’s a piece of advice and I followed it. I love Australia, it’s cool.”.
When he talks about the house. the excitement sounds less like a celebrity flex and more like a man trying to slow his life down. “It’s gotten to a place that it’s potentially the coolest house ever built … ” he said. “I live a pretty fast-paced life and work quite a bit. so in between movies and press tours. my number one goal is always to take time for myself and rest and recharge and to be in nature as much as possible. and as close to the earth as I can. and this land just feels like it’s perfect for that.”.
There’s a clear through-line in what Efron is saying: the same drive that once pushed him into “only focused on work” is now being redirected toward the kind of balance he didn’t have before—mental health first, happiness in both parts of life, and a home designed around the downtime he’s chasing.
Zac Efron mental health personal life Baywatch sustainable home Byron Bay Joost Bakker Russell Crowe
Good for him I guess.
I feel like he’s just saying this now because people were judging him before. Mental health is real but also… he’s still famous so he can just choose happiness. Also hemp house sounds like a hippie flex lol.
Wait so is the article saying he’s building a home made out of hemp like literally the plant? That’s kinda cool. But also “sust Zac Efron used to measure his life” — what is that even supposed to mean? Maybe autocorrect messed up because I’m confused.
Men never sacrifice mental health but he got a Baywatch body that made him unhappy, so which one is it? Sounds like PR honestly. Now he’s measuring life in rest… ok but he’s still working and building a giant 128-hectare property?? That’s not exactly “rest.”