Catherine Laga’aia Defends Moana Casting After Beating 32,000 Applicants
Updated
Updated · Hollywood Reporter · Jul 10
Catherine Laga’aia Defends Moana Casting After Beating 32,000 Applicants
2 articles · Updated · Hollywood Reporter · Jul 10
Summary
19-year-old Catherine Laga’aia said she is “completely aware” of “nepo baby” criticism as Disney prepares to launch her in the live-action Moana lead.
32,000 applicants entered the global Instagram casting call, and Laga’aia — then 17 and largely unknown outside a small 2023 TV role — won the part.
Jay Laga’aia’s daughter said her father’s main advice was to treat auditions as the real job, while co-star Dwayne Johnson and director Thomas Kail pushed her to make Moana her own.
Samoan Australian Laga’aia said playing a Polynesian heroine she identified with since the 2016 film carried pressure but also underscored the franchise’s Pacific Islander representation.
July 10’s premiere follows Disney’s latest promotional push, with Laga’aia saying she hopes the film opens more screen roles while she still aims to work onstage.