Zac Efron unveiled a new look during a sun-soaked trip to Italy, showing off bleached platinum hair as he relaxed on a lavish yacht with friends, including newly single Nina Dobrev.
On Thursday the 37-year-old actor wore black swim trunks and went shirtless, flashing a sculpted torso as the vessel cruised along the coast.
Meanwhile, attention has shifted to his appearance in Netflix's romantic comedy A Family Affair, in which co-stars Nicole Kidman and Joey King. Viewers have remarked online that his jaw appears wider and his facial features look stockier, prompting widespread discussion about the actor's transformation.
Fans took to social media to express surprise or confusion about his look, with some noting they struggled to focus on the film itself as he dominated the online conversation.
Zac's changing face has long been a topic of public interest. In 2022 he explained that a severe fall at home shattered his jaw, and the masseter muscles on the inside of his face grew to compensate, producing a markedly different jawline. He discussed this in a Men's Health cover story and in a November Entertainment Weekly interview while promoting The Iron Claw.
The backstory dates to an incident in which he slipped on a pair of socks and struck his chin on a granite fountain, an accident he said caused the jaw to transform as the muscles adapted to the injury. He has repeatedly said the change was not the result of cosmetic surgery, though rumors persisted for years.
In April 2021, a video the actor appeared in for Earth Day! The Musical briefly drew attention to his square chin and prompted ongoing online speculation about whether he chose to alter his appearance. He later said in interviews that the masseter muscles grew after the injury, not because of surgery.
Public responses have included defense from peers and hosts who know him well. For example, Kyle Sandilands, an Australian radio host, has said on air that he would know if Zac had undergone plastic surgery, calling the rumors unlikely and likening the situation to admiring an unaltered work of art.
As he continues to balance acting projects with a highly scrutinized appearance, Efron's evolving look remains a talking point in pop culture and entertainment coverage.