The movie stars 19-year-old Samoan Australian actress Catherine Laga'aia, who is making her feature film debut. She recently sat down with entertainment reporter Joelle Garguilo to talk about taking on the iconic role.
Asked whether she remembers the first time she said, "I am Moana," Laga'aia said the line that means the most to her comes at the end of the film.
"Maybe not the first one I ever said, but the one that meant the most is at the very end of the film when she's kind of coming into herself and it's a change of the mantra," Laga'aia said. "I am Moana of Motunui. Aboard my boat, I will sail across the sea and restore the heart of Te Fiti."
She said the subtle changes in the character's language reflect her personal growth.
"Instead of searching for something else, she's found all she needs within herself," Laga'aia said. "I feel like that's such a beautiful thing for someone to experience and someone to get to have."
Playing Moana also required plenty of imagination.
"I'm acting with just nothing there," Laga'aia said with a laugh when Garguilo pointed out that many scenes required her to act opposite water and visual effects that would be added later.
Laga'aia said some of her favorite moments since landing the role have come from meeting young fans.
"I have. So many. And it's my favorite," she said. "That's why we do it. That's why we make these movies, and that's why these live-action films are so important. Little kids can see real faces on screen doing the things that they love, and it inspires them."
One standout memory from filming involved Dwayne Johnson performing the fan-favorite song "You're Welcome."
"He just does it so well," Laga'aia said. "Getting to watch Dwayne in a wig dance around with some flowers and stuff, I feel like that was one of my core memories and such a unique experience."
She also recalled filming "How Far I'll Go" in Hawaii.
"It's such a special experience, and we got to shoot so much of it here in Hawaii," Laga'aia said. "I felt like I had a personal, one-on-one connection with her."
For Laga'aia, one of the biggest points of pride is the production's commitment to authenticity.
"From the costumes to the boat to the props to the PAs to our incredible director and choreography team, everybody took their job so seriously in making sure that this was going to be as authentic and as genuine as it could be," she said. "I know and I have trust that this movie is incredible and that I can be proud of it."
You can watch the new live-action "Moana" in theaters on July 10, 2026. Disney is the parent company of this station.