Catherine Laga'aia

Catherine Laga'aia
Laga'aia in 2026
Born
Catherine Laga'aia

(2006-12-17) 17 December 2006[1]
Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
OccupationActress
Years active2023–present
FatherJay Laga'aia

Catherine "Katie" Laga'aia (born 17 December 2006) is an Australian actress. Her film debut was the title role of the live-action film Moana (2026).

Early life

Laga'aia was born on 17 December 2006 in Sydney, New South Wales, Australia, to actor Jay Laga'aia and his wife Sandra Jane.[2][3] She has seven siblings and is of Samoan and English descent.[4] Her grandparents are from Savai'i and Upolu in Samoa. She grew up in the inner west of Sydney as part of a theatrical family, being one of eight children. Five of her siblings have also pursued careers in the performing arts.[5]

Laga'aia attended Newtown High School of the Performing Arts and graduated in 2024.[6] In 2025, Laga'aia graduated from the National Institute of Dramatic Art with a Diploma of Stage and Screen Performance.[4]

Career

Laga'aia made her screen debut in the television series The Lost Flowers of Alice Hart (2023), appearing as a younger version of the character Candy.[7] In June 2024, Laga'aia was cast in the title role of Disney's 2026 film Moana, opposite Dwayne Johnson.[8][9][10][11][12] Laga'aia was selected from over 32,000 international applicants to star as Moana in Disney's live-action adaptation. Laga'aia's sisters Isabella and Georgia also applied and sent tapes in for the auditions. Prior to her casting, she had primarily focused on straight acting. Her mother encouraged her to audition, which led to a screen test in New York where she was directed by Thomas Kail.[5]

Production involved a seven-month schedule that required Laga'aia to balance her Year 12 HSC assessments and examinations.[5] As Laga'aia was still a student when cast as Moana, she finished her classwork remotely so she could still sit her HSC. One of Laga'aia's teachers, Mr. Kavanagh, stated: "We had her emailing assessment tasks and exams back and forth from the set of Moana, to ensure that she was able to complete her HSC while filming."[6] During the production of Moana, Laga'aia completed her final secondary school assessments on location, taking her English examination in front of a mirror on the first day of filming. She finished her final examinations in a trailer in Los Angeles with her on-set tutor's golden retriever by her side. While studying she occasionally confused math equations with her script lines.[5]

While Moana (2026) received an unfavorable critical response, Laga'aia received praise for her performance. In Fortress of Solitude magazine, Casey Chong wrote: "Catherine Laga’aia brings a grounded yet feisty charm to her titular character [and] pairs well with Dwayne Johnson."[13] Marshall Shaffer of The Playlist stated that "the closest thing this Moana offers to reality is Catherine Lagaʻaia, the actress making her screen debut in the titular role. She manages to embody both the wisdom of an emerging tribal leader and the impetuousness of a teenager with some attitude."[14]

Laga'aia has been cast in the upcoming Australian thriller film Crashout, directed by Nick Annas.[15][16]

Filmography

Film

Key
† Denotes films that have not yet been released
YearTitleRoleNotes
2026 Moana Moana also contributed to the film's soundtrack
TBA Crashout † Riley Filming

Television

Key
† Denotes television productions that have not yet been released
YearTitleRoleNotes
2023The Lost Flowers of Alice HartYoung Candy3 episodes

References

  1. ↑ Hargrave, Sam (17 November 2025). "Who Is Moana's Live-Action Actress, Catherine Laga'aia?". The Direct. Archived from the original on 18 November 2025.
  2. ↑ Doherty, Megan (15 July 2012). "Jay's just kidding around". smh.com.au. The Sydney Morning Herald. Archived from the original on 6 January 2026.
  3. ↑ Hill, Tess. "Meet the new live-action Moana star Catherine Laga'aia". hellomagazine.com. Hello! Magazine. Archived from the original on 18 November 2025.
  4. 1 2 "Catherine Laga'aia". nida.edu.au. National Institute of Dramatic Art. Archived from the original on 16 June 2026. Retrieved 2026-07-12.
  5. 1 2 3 4 Gossling, Bronte (2026-07-01). "Catherine Laga'aia beat 32,000 girls to play Moana. The toughest competition was at home". The Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 2026-08-10.
  6. 1 2 Engagement, Communication and (2026-06-29). "From High School to Hollywood". education.nsw.gov.au. Retrieved 2026-07-05.
  7. ↑ "The Lost Flowers of Alice Hart review". The Guardian. 2023-08-03. Retrieved 2026-03-23.
  8. ↑ D'Alessandro, Anthony (2024-06-12). "Disney Finds Their Live-Action 'Moana' In Catherine Laga'aia". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved 2026-03-23.
  9. ↑ "Live-Action "Moana" Casts Catherine Laga'aia in Title Role". People. 2024-06-12. Retrieved 2026-03-23.
  10. ↑ "New trailer and poster for Disney's Moana now available". Disney Press UK. Retrieved 2026-03-23.
  11. ↑ "Dwayne Johnson and Catherine Laga'aia star in Moana trailer". People. 2026-03-23. Retrieved 2026-03-23.
  12. ↑ "Moana live-action trailer released". Collider. Retrieved 2026-03-23.
  13. ↑ Chong, Casey (July 8, 2026). "Moana (2026) Review – Same Song, Worse Movie". Fortress of Solitude. Retrieved July 8, 2026.
  14. ↑ Shaffer, Marshall (July 8, 2026). "'Moana' Review: Disney's Live-Action Remake Is A Craven, Cynical, Unnecessary Cash Grab". The Playlist. Retrieved July 8, 2026.
  15. ↑ Ramachandran, Naman (2026-02-14). "'Moana' Star Catherine Laga'aia to Lead Australian Thriller 'Crashout'". Variety. Retrieved 2026-03-23.
  16. ↑ "Joe Bird joins Catherine Laga'aia in Crashout". Cinema Express. 2026-03-12. Retrieved 2026-03-23.
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