Zac Efron was the 'hardest working dude' on set during a brutal outback shoot for new Stan film Gold By D. Lawrance and Chloe-lee Longhetti For Daily Mail Australia Published: 20:37 GMT, 25 January 2022 | Updated: 20:37 GMT, 25 January 2022 Viewcomments His new Stan film Gold was no walk in the park, with the outback shoot taking place amid extreme heat and even sandstorms. But director and co-star Anthony Hayes has praised American actor Zac Efron's commitment to the project in a new interview with The Sydney Morning Herald. 'Once Zac got out there, he was just the hardest working dude you could get,' said Hayes. Committed: Gold director Anthony Hayes has praised American actor Zac Efron's (pictured last year) commitment to the film in a new interview with The Sydney Morning Herald He added that the Hollywood star never waited in his trailer between setups, even when ground temperatures reached a whopping 70 degrees Celsius. 'He didn't complain once,' the director added. In a recent trailer for the upcoming thriller, the 34-year-old American actor looks barely recognisable after undergoing an incredible transformation for the role. In the nail-biting drama, Zac plays a man who finds an oversized nugget of gold. Unrecognisable! Zac underwent a WILD transformation for the new Stan film Gold And he's soon forced to battle the harsh desert wilderness in his quest to keep his find safe, before running into a mysterious woman, played by Susie Porter. In a teaser trailer and exclusive pics, Zac can be seen with scruffy hair, a bushy beard and incredible makeup, including fake cuts, bruises, fake blood and blistered skin. After a viewing, Daily Mail Australia noted that 'Zac Efron's performance is extraordinary', and nothing quite like what he's done before. In character: In a teaser trailer and exclusive pics, Zac can be seen with scruffy hair, a bushy beard and incredible makeup, including fake cuts, bruises, fake blood and blistered skin Sensational: After a viewing, Daily Mail Australia noted that 'Zac Efron's performance is extraordinary', and nothing quite like what he's done before Gold was filmed in South Australia in the Flinders Rangers and Leigh Creek. Zac spent over a year in Australia escaping Covid-ravaged America. While Down Under, he was based in the celebrity hot spot Byron Bay and dated local influencer and model Vanessa Valladares, 26, but they have since split. They are believed to have first met in June 2020, when Vanessa was waiting tables at the Byron Bay General Store café. The Stan Original film Gold is available to stream now on Stan. Case of the ex: While Down Under, he was based in the celebrity hot spot Byron Bay and dated local influencer and model Vanessa Valladares, 26, but they have since split Read more: Share or comment on this article: All rights reserved for this news site (dailymail) and under his responsibility