Goldfish unmasked: What award-winning actress was transformed into the finned diva on ‘The Masked Singer’?
The Season 11 finale took place on “The Masked Singer” Wednesday, May 22. After singing their hearts out for panelists Robin Thicke, Jenny McCarthy Wahlberg, Ken Jeong and Rita Ora, Goldfish and Gumball stood by side as host Nick Cannon announced Goldfish was the winner. Following Gumball’s unmasking as actor Scott Porter, Goldfish took it off and revealed herself as award-winning actress Vanessa Hudgens. Watch her unmasking above.
“It’s honestly the most incredible thing ever!” she exclaimed during her unmasked interview with Nick. “I’ve just been so excited to take my mask off and stare into Rita’s eyes and be like, ‘Girl, this is why I couldn’t hang out with you! Because I can’t lie!’ I was here!”
SEE Gumball unmasked: What award-winning actor was secretly rockin’ out on ‘The Masked Singer’?
Did she ever think being a Goldfish would be so life-changing? “I really did not,” Vanessa admitted. “I was like, ‘Oh, she cute!’ But I never knew it would give me the freedom to purely just do something that I love and it’s been so long since I’ve been able to do that. It makes me so emotional, because I really do love it so much. It fills my soul, truly.”
Prior to her performance of “Heart of Glass” by Blondie, Goldfish revealed in her final clue package, “I have loved being able to swim into new territories as the golden girl on this stage! As a little girl I was never really great at expressing myself. It’s not really something I grew up around. But lately, I have been on a journey of self-discovery, and being here I’ve been able to express myself so freely. I come from a working-class family that has no connection to Hollywood whatsoever, so there’s no reason I should have made it. But I’m proof that with enough love, hard work and dedication, you can truly do anything. And, I’m so proud of my performances and I can’t wait to have kids when that time comes so I can be like, ‘Look at mommy go!’ Now I gotta say, I know I’m up against some steep competition, but winning this would be the ultimate pat on the back. It would really honestly mean so much. It makes me emotional because I’ve always thought of myself as an actor first. Singing kind of does come second. Doing ‘The Masked Singer’ is my way of giving everyone a music moment. The response has made me want it to never end.”
For her second performance, Goldfish sang “Don’t Let the Sun Go Down on Me” by Elton John. Goldfish was the 16th celebrity act unmasked this season following Kevin Hart as Book, Savannah Chrisley as Afghan Hound, Joe Bastianich as Spaghetti & Meatballs, Billy Bush as Sir Lion, Sisqo as Lizard, Colton Underwood as Lovebird, DeMarcus Ware as Koala, Charlie Wilson as Ugly Sweater, Kate Flannery as Starfish, Jenifer Lewis as Miss Cleocatra, Corey Feldman as Seal and Ruben Studdard & Clay Aiken as Beets, Chrissy Metz as Poodle Moth, Thelma Houston as Clock and Scott Porter as Gumball.