Catherine Laga’aia believed she’d landed a ticket to paradise when she was cast in “Moana,” earning the title role as the Polynesian Disney princess in the new live-action remake. Then she discovered she was going to Atlanta.
“I thought I was being scammed because I was like, ‘We’re shooting this beautiful island movie and we can’t shoot it in L.A.? We can’t shoot it in Hawaii maybe?’” she recalled. “Atlanta has its own charm and its own beauty, but it doesn’t really give island.”
About two weeks into shooting, Laga’aia, 19, found herself on a boat in a water tank — either alone or with Dwayne Johnson, who plays the demigod Maui — with nothing but a blue screen to look at. And covered by a layer of stress.
“It was my first movie, first big job, first real job truly,” she said. “Every single day on set, my worst nightmare was that I was wasting people’s time.”
The Australian actress was raised in Sydney, where her father, Jay, is a well-known actor of Samoan descent, and several of her seven siblings are involved in musical theater. She recently finished “Crashout,” a teenage horror thriller, and is trying to figure out what’s next.
“My big thing is I just need to be in a cast,” she said, laughing. “Doing a movie by yourself kind of sucks.”
In a video call, Laga’aia spoke about reminders of home, including her favorite pasta, her best friends and huddling with all her brothers and sisters. These are edited excerpts from the conversation.
My Pounamu Necklaces
I have three right now. I have one that’s kind of a hook, which I’ve worn for three years. I got it right before I went into “Moana” as a gift from my auntie and uncle. They gave it to me as kind of a blessing and an item I could take with me for protection. It’s a rite of passage in a lot of families and especially mine.
Ice Water
I have an obsession with ice water. I will not drink water if it doesn’t have ice in it. My preference: It’s got to be more ice than water. And if that ice starts melting, you’ve got to add more ice.
Having My Siblings Together
One of my favorite parts of growing up was having so many siblings. It just makes it so much nicer when we all get to be together now that we’re all a bit older and a bit more spread out in the world.
The Stage
My absolute dream would be to work on the West End, Broadway, the National Theater in London. But I feel like I need to build my skills in movies and TV first. I look at what Sadie Sink has done. “John Proctor Is the Villain” hasn’t come to Australia yet, but I’m putting my name down for it if it does.
A Good Curly Hair Day
That is the make or break for me. My hair has gotten a lot curlier as I’ve gotten older, and if it’s a bad curly hair day, I just can’t function. It’ll be up and then it’ll be out and then I’ll braid it and then I’ll undo it and I’ll put it in a bun.
Brittany Broski and Caleb Hearon on ‘The Comment Section With Drew Afualo’
Possibly the funniest podcast episode in history. When you’re in hair and makeup, it takes two and a bit hours to get the wig on, get the makeup done. I would just watch it, replay it, watch it, replay it. The three of them together are geniuses.
Walking
I’m a big walker. Is it because I don’t have my license and can’t drive? Maybe. But I would like to say that I’m just really passionate for fitness.
‘Moana,’ the 2016 Animated Movie
That movie changed my life in so many different ways, giving me a lot of inspiration when I was younger. Getting a Disney princess who’s from your culture, it’s such a special thing to be celebrated in that way.
My Girls
My girls are my three best friends — Carmen, Stella and Asia — and I have been with these girls since I’d say year seven, year eight. We’re each other’s ride or dies. These will be my bridesmaids at my wedding. These girls will come with me absolutely everywhere I go.
Everyday Pasta
I don’t want a nice dinner pasta. I like the ready-made pasta you get out of the packet and then some kind of roasted vegetable sauce and just copious amounts of Parmesan cheese. It’s my peak comfort food.
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