“I can’t get a part without taking my shirt off,” jokes ripped Baywatch star Zac Efron

“THERE are a lot of penis jokes (in Baywatch) and you don’t see a single nipple,” says Alex Daddario, as Zac Efron jokes why he has to take his shirt off.

BAYWATCH film stars Zac Efron and Alexandra Daddario on underwater stunts, fetishised male bodies and their relative lack of domestication.

There is feverish speculation on line that you two are an item. Would either of you care to comment?

Alexandra Daddario: I think that makes sense because we are love interests in the movie. But this (gestures towards Efron) is a lot for me to handle.

Efron’s Matt Brody meets his match in Alexandra Daddario’s Summer character in a scene from Baywatch.

Alexandra, your Baywatch co-star, Dwayne Johnson, told me that after a couple of bad experiences, he now only chooses to surround himself only with positive, motivated people. This is your second film together (after San Andreas) so I presume that includes you.

It’s very flattering to have been cast (opposite Dwayne again) in this movie. That’s one of the great things about him, he really supports young people’s careers.

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(L-R) Jon Bass plays Ronnie, Alex Daddario plays Summer, Zac Efron plays Matt Brody, Dwayne Johnson plays Mitch Buchannon, Kelly Rohrbach plays CJ Parker, and Ilfenesh Hadera plays Stephanie Holden in Baywatch.

Zac, there’s a scene in the film in which you punch Dwayne and he barely feels it. How close is that to real life?

That was spot on. I think I used full force. It was like a butterfly.

Dwayne Johnson’s Mitch and Efron’s Matt Brody come out of the surf.

Was there any competition on set when it came to working out?

There was no competition. None whatsoever. He is on another level.

Having said that, your muscle definition in Baywatch is really quite extraordinary.

It’s amazing how much you can put yourself through to achieve that transformation for a character. I was working so hard, I didn’t really notice until the day of the Ninja Warrior (Obstacle) Course. I was so delirious from not eating carbohydrates, when I finally had some, I felt superhuman. I actually completed the course! Some photos came out and my mum was like: holy cow! And I was like: is that me?

Johnson and Efron managed to keep their tops on in this scene.

Zac, I know you felt some heat on the set of The Greatest Showman, something to do with too much fire accelerant. There are some impressive explosions on Baywatch, but what about the underwater work?

AD: You have people from the stunt team and divers ready to come and save you if there is (even a hint of trouble), so you feel very safe. But you stay submerged at 15-30 feet, taking breaths of oxygen (between scenes). You have to train yourself to stay calm and not panic. We both have our scuba licences so that makes it a lot easier.

Zac: I have done about 35 dives. I love underwater work.

The women look great in Baywatch, but it’s the men’s bodies that are fetishised. It makes a nice change.

AD: There are a lot of penis jokes in the film and you don’t see a single nipple. It’s more interesting for the female characters to be heroic and tough. We are just these sort of supernaturally good-looking people who take their jobs way too seriously.

Daddario at the premiere of Baywatch in Berlin, Germany, on Tuesday. Picture: J'rg Carstensen

Is it reflective of a wider trend?

AD: Since I moved out to Hollywood eight years ago, even the roles I audition for are completely different.

ZE: And I cannot get a part without taking my shirt off! Don’t quote me on that but it’s probably true.

Zac, you live with your brother. How important is family in a place like Hollywood?

ZE: Immensely. My little brother, well, technically he’s the bigger brother now, and I get along great. We both love the same things.

Zac Efron poses with his brother Dyland and actor Adam Devine. Picture: Instagram

Who is the better cook?

ZE: He’s a bit more domesticated than me. I am flying from country to country getting served delicious juices in pretty glass jars (Efron gestures to the tray beside him).

Efron and Daddario at the Baywatch photo call at Bondi Beach, Sydney, on May 17. Picture: Cassandra Hannagan

I guess that’s one of the downsides of your chosen career?

AD: After spending a lot of time in hotels, I find I am very bad at being domesticated. Cleaning up dishes, cooking ... that’s still something I am figuring out.

Do you have any kind of “landing” routine?

ZE: One of the best things I have found to help with that is, instead of trying to go back home and settle back into whatever pattern you think you have, you go camping, go out into nature, where you have to take care of yourself. That’s what I do a lot with my brother.

Zac, you have just signed up to play the notorious American serial killer Ted Bundy. What can you tell us about that.

It’s exciting. It’s fresh. The last years have been very fun and I have worked for some great comedians. But drama is where my heart really lies and this just seems like a really interesting person to play. It’s always fun to find the edge of your comfort zone and then step through it. If you surround yourself with like-minded people, that’s when real magic happens.

Baywatch opens today

Originally published as “I can’t get a part without taking my shirt off,” jokes ripped Baywatch star Zac Efron