Catherine Lagaʻaia remembers the first time she put on Moana's costume. In a new interview with Disney, the actress said that was when playing the character stopped feeling like an idea and started feeling real.
“Getting to wear [the costume] for the first time was a moment where I truly felt like I was Moana.” — Catherine Lagaʻaia
It is a simple detail, but it tells you how much the clothes mattered to her. Lagaʻaia said the live-action costume also feels closer to what Moana might have worn in the world of the film. She plays the voyager in Disney's 2026 remake, which opened in US theaters on July 10.
What was filming on the boat like?
Lagaʻaia said the water scenes helped her feel close to Moana. She remembered the funny parts too, including moments when Moana is knocked or thrown off the boat and scenes with Dwayne Johnson's Maui jumping aboard. Those are action scenes in the movie, but the actress talked about them as some of the most enjoyable work on set.
The interview also gives a glimpse of what happened between takes. Lagaʻaia said the background performers would clap when the visual-effects reference equipment appeared, because it usually meant a scene was finished. Eventually the cast joined in with jokes and songs about those pieces of equipment. It is a more personal set story than a list of production facts.
Why did Sina stand out to her?
Asked which other character she would like to play, Lagaʻaia chose Sina, Moana's mother. She praised the warmth and confidence Frankie Adams brings to the role. She also talked about Te Fiti and how important the story's Pacific Islander culture is to her.
Lagaʻaia grew up in Sydney. She said leaving home to become an actor helped her understand Moana's decision to sail away from Motunui. She hopes the movie encourages viewers to learn more about Polynesian culture and other cultures too.
Disney says a Disney+ debut is coming, but it has not announced a streaming date for the live-action film. For now, this interview is a chance to hear how Lagaʻaia approached Moana and what she remembers most clearly from making it.
