Zac Efron was delighted to land a role playing Nicole Kidman's onscreen lover in The Paperboy and has called the pair's saucy scenes the "highlight" of his life.

The High School Musical star recently completed filming on the thriller, which is based on the novel by American author Pete Dexter, in New Orleans, Louisiana and he has revealed he relished his time with Kidman.

He tells the AAP: "She's (Kidman) my love interest... Nicole is so gorgeous. It was everything you dreamed of.

"She was such a lovely person. I pinch myself everyday, especially after doing love scenes with Nicole Kidman.

"It was the highlight of my life. Nicole was something else and was always in character. She didn't get weird method, like some actors do, but I have never seen anyone so centred."

The Paperboy is due for release later this year.