06 July,2026 07:22 PM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondent
Thomas Kail, Catherine Laga`aia and Dwayne Johnson. Pic via special arrangement
Nineteen-year-old Catherine Laga'aia may be Disney's newest leading lady, but according to director Thomas Kail, it took only "10 seconds" to know she was the perfect choice for Moana. The Samoan-Australian actor, who stars opposite Dwayne Johnson in Disney's live-action reimagining of Moana, was selected from more than 32,000 aspiring actors. The film releases in India on July 10 in English and Hindi.
Laga'aia has shared that playing Moana feels deeply personal. She was just nine years old when the original animated film released in 2016, and seeing a Polynesian heroine on screen left a lasting impact on her.
Director Thomas Kail recalled spotting her talent the very first time he watched her audition tape, which she submitted when she was only 16.
"She has that thing... you can coach it, but you can't teach it," Kail said, describing the quality that instantly stood out.
During her audition, Laga'aia sang the iconic How Far I'll Go before performing two dramatic scenes. While her singing impressed him, Kail said it was her emotional understanding of the character that sealed the decision.
"I stood up from my chair and said, 'I think we found Moana,'" he recalled. In another interview, the filmmaker revealed that it took him "about 10 seconds" after meeting Laga'aia to know she was the right person to lead Disney's ambitious remake alongside Dwayne Johnson, who returns as Maui.
Working on Moana proved to be a transformative experience for the young actor, who says the journey taught her to embrace challenges instead of fearing them.
"I learned a lot about myself, and I learned how to be brave," Laga'aia shared. "There were so many opportunities that I was nervous to take because you don't know where you're going to end up."
She said completing the film has encouraged her to pursue opportunities that once seemed impossible.
Laga'aia also pointed to the relationship between Moana and Grandma Tala as the film's emotional core, saying the story reminds young people to trust themselves and seize opportunities even when the future feels uncertain.
Directed by Thomas Kail, Disney's live-action Moana sees Dwayne Johnson reprise his fan-favourite role as Maui while Catherine Laga'aia steps into the iconic title role for the first time. The film sails into cinemas across India on July 10.
