Taylor: Zac was my partner in crime

Taylor Schilling has described her The Lucky One co-star Zac Efron as the perfect "partner in crime."

The pair star together in the film adaptation of Nicholas Sparks' romantic novel and, while Zac found fame as a teenager, the film is 27-year-old Taylor's first major movie role.

"I couldn't have asked for a better partner in crime for my first big film, he's an incredibly hard-working actor, and also really, really compassionate and kind," said Taylor at the film's Los Angeles premiere.

"He just made me feel so safe on set."

The film, shot in Louisiana, tells the story of a Marine who returns from Iraq and searches for the unknown woman whose picture he thinks kept him safe during the war.

Also at the premiere was their co-star Blythe Danner, Zac's High School Musical pal Ashley Tisdale and The Hills star Audrina Patridge.