Catherine Laga’aia discusses landing Moana, learning to swim, working with Auliʻi Cravalho, and meeting Dwayne Johnson
Hollywood First Look is with Catherine Laga’aia talking about Disney’s live-action Moana. The reimagining of the beloved animated film celebrates Polynesian culture while introducing Moana’s story to a new generation.
In this interview, Laga’aia shares how her mother made sure production knew she couldn’t swim, leading to months of lessons before filming, how her father helped guide her through the audition process, what it was like working with Auliʻi Cravalho, meeting Dwayne Johnson for the first time on set, and why auditioning for the role became a true family affair.
Featured in this video:
Catherine Laga’aia
Moana will be in theaters on July 10, 2026.
Correspondent/Producer: Mikey Monis
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Senior Producer: Kiyra Lynn
Editor: Mickey Martinez
