Catherine Laga'aia Reflects on Her Role as Moana Amid Nepotism Concerns

Catherine Laga'aia, the 19-year-old actress, has stepped into the iconic role of Moana in Disney's live-action adaptation, a role she first auditioned for at age 17. Laga'aia, who succeeds Auli'i Cravalho, expresses her deep connection to the character and acknowledges the pressures of embodying a beloved Disney princess.

Catherine Laga'aia's Journey to Moana

In her journey to land the lead role, Laga'aia participated in an open casting call on Instagram, beating out over 32,000 applicants. Reflecting on her audition, she admits, "I didn’t have much confidence going into the audition, but my mom knew I would land the part — call it mother’s intuition." Her previous acting experience included a few episodes of the Australian miniseries The Lost Flowers of Alice Hart.

As she prepares to introduce her version of Moana to audiences, Laga'aia recalls the moment she first saw the animated film in 2016, saying, "This is a princess who looks like me. This is a princess who looks like my sister." Her cultural background as an actress of Samoan descent adds depth to her portrayal.

Overcoming Nepotism Labels

Catherine is well aware of the nepotism discussions surrounding her career, given her father, Jay Laga'aia, is known for his role as Captain Typho in the Star Wars prequels. She embraces her heritage and the opportunities it has provided, stating, "I grew up looking at what my dad did, and I have so much respect for how much grit and determination and passion he puts into his work." Laga'aia aims to carve out her own identity as an actress while acknowledging her father's influence.

In the face of nepotism critiques, she emphasizes the importance of hard work and dedication, saying, "Your job is the audition. Your job is not the job. You don’t have that yet. So your job is whatever sides they gave you." This mindset fuels her commitment to her craft.

Creating a Unique Moana Experience

Working closely with director Thomas Kail and co-star Dwayne Johnson, Laga'aia focuses on bringing her own interpretation to Moana. She notes, "We don’t want to try and re-create what’s already been done because that’s already been done. What we want to do is bring new things into our version of the film." Her age difference from Auli'i Cravalho's portrayal adds a unique perspective to her performance.

As she reflects on the importance of representation, Laga'aia shares, "It truly felt like we had a village. We come from all of the islands in the Pacific, all the islands in Polynesia. But the one thing we all have in common now is that we are all from Motunui." This sense of community is a significant aspect of her experience.

Collaborating with Dwayne Johnson, Laga'aia admires his enthusiasm and willingness to embrace challenges, stating, "One thing I picked up from Dwayne is just how game he is. He’s just down to do anything." This positive energy motivates her to give her all in every scene.