Disney's Moana was released in 2016, but in the ten years since the animated masterpiece hit theaters and captured hearts around the world, it has become more than just a kids movie—it's a bonafide classic, the story of a brave young woman who follows her destiny and saves her people. (With a little help from the ocean and a demigod, of course.) Now, Moana is joining the list of beloved Disney films that have gotten a live-action treatment, and actor Catherine Laga'aia is picking up the princess of Motunui's oar for the next chapter of her story.
Teen Vogue chatted with Laga'aia on the eve of the film's Los Angeles premiere; the 19-year-old star was feeling “excited” about the big night; six of her seven siblings were there to support her. “I feel like I've spent so long feeling nervous that I've kind of gotten past it a little bit,” the Sydney native shared. “I'm in a good head space right now.”
Those calm vibes radiated on the red carpet, as Laga'aia walked the red carpet in a blue and white printed gown with a halter neckline and intricate ruffled details throughout, plus midriff and back cutouts. “We wanted to keep it kind of still in the world of Moana, but avoid it looking costumey,” she explained, adding that ocean blue was a prevalent color given Moana's deep connection with the water. “I think the dress is quite reminiscent of a shell or even something that Tamatoa the crab would find in the bottom of the ocean.” (We know he loves everything “Shiny,” after all.)
Laga'aia shot the movie when she was 17 years old and is now 19, so she and her stylist Alexandra Mandelkorn ensured that the red carpet look was an adequate representation of her style evolution over the years. “She really wanted to have those elements of Moana, but still have it feel like me and allow me to age a little bit,” the star shared. When collaborating on looks for premieres and press engagements, Laga'aia and Mandelkorn took a similar “Method dressing” approach to that of Zendaya and Law Roach. “We wanted to reference the sand, the sun, and the ocean and all of the different kinds of colors and textures.”
Both Moana and Laga'aia have long, flowing curls, and the actor wore hers pulled halfway up, with the lengths flowing down her back, just brushing the back strap of her dress. To get in the mood for such a high-energy premiere, Laga'aia said prepped for the night by listening to pump-me-up playlist, including Olivia Rodrigo's latest album you seem pretty sad for a girl so in love—not to mention an old favorite. “Realistically, I'll probably listen to the 2016 [Moana] soundtrack just because that puts me in a good headspace for what we're gonna do.”
In addition to the music, Laga'aia focused on exactly what was in front of her to help calm any pre-event jitters. “Something that my director, Thomas Kail, always taught me was to just think about the thing you're doing in that exact moment and maybe the exact next thing you have to do,” Laga'aia told us. “For me, the concept of thinking like, 'Okay, I'm gonna do the red carpet, I'm gonna watch the movie, then we're gonna do it somewhere else. It's gonna be like a whole thing…'” is so awful to comprehend for me. So I'm thinking about this, then I'm probably gonna have a snack, and then maybe I'll go annoy one of my brothers. I'm kinda walking my way slowly through the day." She's found that focus on “why I'm here and what I'm supposed to do” has been helpful too, what with the whole world's eyes on her as she takes on the role of Moana. “I think remembering that this movie is so much bigger than myself and bigger than anything that I could have ever really dreamed of.”
