Ahead of her big screen debut as Moana in the upcoming live-action remake, Catherine Laga’aia has spoken about the benefits she’s received as a daughter of a Star Wars actor – and she’s embracing her nepotism label. Although Disney’s live-action remakes have been divisive to say the least, the House of Mouse is charging ahead, with Moana set to land in cinemas on Friday, July 10th. The film adapts the 2016 animated hit of the same name, with Dwayne ‘The Rock’ Johnson playing Maui, alongside Rena Owen, John Tui, and Frankie Adams as Gramma Tala, Chief Tui, and Sina. Laga’aia was announced in the title role in 2024, and if you recognise the name, it’s because she’s the daughter of Jay Laga’aia, the actor best known for portraying Captain Typho in Star Wars movies Attack of the Clones and Revenge of the Sith. Credit: 20th Century Fox Despite the ongoing debate around star casting and nepotism in Hollywood, the Moana actress is not shying away from it. In a conversation with People, she joked, “I inherited nepotism, that’s for sure. I’ll take that anytime.” “I think having my dad in the industry, as well as wanting to do the OG proud, and wanting to do the people who love the movies proud, I feel my biggest thing was I wanted him to be proud,” Laga’aia added. “He knows what’s good, he knows what he likes. I’m someone on his side. That’s the part of my family that I’m representing. “So coming back to that, it’s like ‘What would my dad do?’, but it’s also I need him to be, at the end of the day, proud of the legacy that I’m extending for him.” The Aussie actress also spoke about growing up with seven siblings in a “very little bubble,” and wanting to differentiate herself. “Even my little house felt like a little Motunui, we had so many people always running around,” she continued. So when she landed the role of Moana, she felt “I’ve got my thing now.” For all the latest film and TV updates and hot takes, like our Facebook page. Featured image credit: David Fisher/Shutterstock/Disney Post navigation Next story
