Catherine Laga’aia Takes the Moana Mantle, Embracing Heritage and Nepo Realities
At 19, Catherine Laga’aia makes her feature-film debut as Moana in Disney’s live-action remake, after beating out 32,000 applicants via an Instagram casting call; she discusses bringing her own take to the character, the Pacific Islander representation on Motunui, and the mix of nerves and excitement as she navigates sudden fame while learning from Dwayne Johnson and director Thomas Kail.
