(Cover) - EN Showbiz - Ashley Tisdale says she's "living the dream" in her latest television role.

The High School Musical star plays college cheerleader Savannah Monroe in new US television series Hellcats, and she says she was thrilled with the opportunity to try the activity again.

The 25-year-old admits she tried her hand at cheerleading when she was younger, but doesn't recall being particularly good at it.

"I'm actually living out my dream as a cheerleader," she laughed in an interview with USA Today. "I tried cheerleading ... but I wasn't really that coordinated!"

Ashley has a stunt double for some of the more complicated moves, although she's proud to say she has mastered some of the more basic manoeuvres.

"I have actually done a flying stunt and a basket toss," she revealed.

The star does worry about injuries, but says she's enjoying pushing her body to the limit.

"Obviously I don't want to get hurt, but I feel really comfortable. ... I like a challenge," explained Ashley.

Although there will be some music and dancing in the show, it will be Ashley's first dramatic role, making it the ideal progression from her part as Sharpay Evans in High School Musical.

The actress says she would struggle with roles which involved no singing or dancing, because musicals have been such a big part of her career so far.

"I feel like music is always in my life with everything. The stuff that I've been part of is always driven by music," she added. "It's like I am performing on the show. ... I get to have that feeling." (C) Cover Media