Moana Star Catherine Laga’aia Acknowledges Her Nepo Baby Status
7 reported
Catherine Laga’aia, who made her film debut at age 17 as the lead in Disney’s live-action Moana, is aware of the nepotism label attached to her career. The 19-year-old Australian actress of Samoan descent is the daughter of Jay Laga’aia, known for playing Captain Typho in the Star Wars prequel films. She beat out 32,000 applicants in an open casting call on Instagram for the role, previously appearing only in a few episodes of the 2023 Australian miniseries The Lost Flowers of Alice Hart. Laga’aia stated she is “completely aware” she is a “nepo baby” and that people cannot call her out on it because she already knows. She credited co-star Dwayne Johnson and director Thomas Kail with putting her at ease during production. Laga’aia said her father’s biggest piece of advice was that “your job is the audition,” not the job itself.
What’s reported
Catherine Laga’aia was 17 when she made her film debut leading Disney’s live-action Moana; she is now 19.
She is the daughter of Jay Laga’aia, who played Captain Typho in the Star Wars prequel films.
Laga’aia beat out 32,000 applicants worldwide in an open casting call on Instagram.
Her only prior acting credit was a few episodes of the 2023 Australian miniseries The Lost Flowers of Alice Hart.
She stated: “I’m completely aware that I’m a nepo baby. I know that, so you can’t call me out on it because I already know it.”
Co-star Dwayne Johnson and director Thomas Kail helped ease her nerves on set.
Her father’s advice: “Your job is the audition. Your job is not the job.”
Key figures
Catherine Laga’aia: actress, star of live-action Moana
Jay Laga’aia: her father, actor known for Star Wars prequel films
Dwayne Johnson: co-star in Moana
Thomas Kail: director of Moana
Auli’i Cravalho: voiced Moana in the animated films
Sources: The Hollywood Reporter
