High School Musical - High School Musical Is A Dream For Russian Rulin

HIGH SCHOOL MUSICAL star OLESYA RULIN can't stop pinching herself - because she thinks her success is just a dream and she'll wake up back in the tiny Russian village where she was born.

The 22-year-old actress was seven when her family relocated to America - and her dream of becoming a star began.

But she can still remember only dreaming of landing a show like High School Musical.

She tells WENN, "I grew up in Russia in a little tiny village with 12 houses and no indoor plumbing and my dad hunted for our food.

"I moved to America when I was seven, through a lot of work and a lot of luck from my parents. I wake up every morning thinking, 'I'm here now working for Disney Channel and I represent Mickey Mouse, and that's awesome.'"

And she hopes her story inspires other hopefuls: "What gives me courage to take big steps is there are possibilities. If you have that courage and that inspiration you can accomplish anything."