Zac Efron, who plays a grieving older brother in his new movie Charlie St. Cloud, struggled with depression while shooting the sentimental drama.

The Hollywood actor says the role all got a little too much for him at times.

"Usually I goof around and have a good time between scenes but not this time because I had to stay in this dark place of losing a younger brother," he said.

"I actually thought a lot about my own little brother and what it would be like if he was gone.

"It was actually very hard to think about and it was too much at times."

The High School Musical Star and his long-term girlfriend Vanessa Hudgens hit the red carpet in Los Angeles Tuesday night for the Charlie St. Cloud world premiere.

Quizzed about his marriage plans, Zac Efron recently said he is in no rush to wed.

"No, I'm not gonna get married for a while," he told US TV show Extra.

"I think I've always said I'm not gonna get married 'til I'm 30. I'm gonna wait.

"I wouldn't want that kind of commitment or pressure at this point."