| Catherine Laga’aia Quick Info | |
|---|---|
| Height | 5 ft 4 in or 163 cm (approx.) |
| Weight | 52 kg or 115 lbs (approx.) |
| Date of Birth | 2006 (exact date not public) |
| Zodiac Sign | Not known |
| Eye Color | Dark Brown |
Image: Gage Skidmore / CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Catherine Laga’aia is an Australian actress of Samoan descent who was cast as the title character in Disney’s live-action remake of Moana, her first major screen role. She stands about 5 ft 4 in (163 cm) tall and weighs about 52 kg (115 lbs). Dwayne Johnson announced her casting in a video message in April 2024, when she was 17 and still in high school in Sydney.
Born Name
Catherine Laga’aia.
Nick Name
Cat.
Sun Sign
Her exact birth date hasn’t been made public, so her sun sign is unconfirmed.
Born Place
Sydney, New South Wales, Australia.
Nationality
Australian.
Education
She attended high school in Sydney and was in her final years of secondary schooling when she landed the Moana role. Her acting background came through school and community theatre rather than formal conservatory training.
Occupation
Actress.
Family
Father – Name not publicly disclosed
Mother – Name not publicly disclosed
Siblings – Not confirmed
Her family traces its roots to the Samoan villages of Fasito’o Uta and Leulumoega-Tuai, a detail she mentioned in her own casting announcement. Her relatives have worked in entertainment in Australia and New Zealand, and she grew up around Samoan language, dance and church singing.
Net Worth
Estimated at under $2 million. Her fee for Moana was set before the film opened, when she was still an unknown, so the bulk of any real payday will come from whatever Disney negotiates next. With the film performing as it has in 2026, her quote for future projects is expected to climb sharply.
Build
Slim.
Height
Approximately 5 ft 4 in or 163 cm. No official figure has been released by her representatives, so this is an estimate based on appearances alongside co-stars.
At 5 ft 4 in (163 cm), Catherine Laga’aia stands right at the average height for an Australian woman and is about a foot shorter than her 6 ft 4 in Moana co-star Dwayne Johnson.
Weight
About 52 kg or 115 lbs.
Boyfriend / Spouse
Catherine Laga’aia appears to be single as of 2026. She has never publicly confirmed a relationship, and because she was a minor when she was cast, Disney and her family have kept her personal life off-limits. Her social media sticks to family, her Samoan heritage and work, and she stayed quiet about anything personal even through the Moana press tour.
Race / Ethnicity
Pacific Islander. She’s Australian-born with Samoan ancestry on both sides of her family.
Hair Color
Black, worn long and naturally wavy.
Eye Color
Dark brown.
Sexual Orientation
Straight.
Distinctive Features
Long, thick black curls
Wide, open smile
Strong resemblance to the animated Moana’s features, which is partly why casting directors flagged her
Religion
Raised Christian, a common upbringing in Samoan-Australian families.
Best Known For
Playing the title role in Disney’s live-action Moana, directed by Thomas Kail, with Dwayne Johnson back as Maui. Moved off its original mid-2025 slot, the film opened on July 10, 2026 and became one of the year’s biggest box office stories, giving Laga’aia one of the highest-profile debuts of any newcomer in recent memory. Auli’i Cravalho, who voiced Moana in the 2016 animated original, serves as an executive producer.
First Film
Moana (2026) is her first feature film and first major credited screen role of any kind. She went from an open casting process to carrying a tentpole Disney musical, which almost never happens. The role also required her to handle the film’s songs herself, including new material written for the live-action version alongside the Lin-Manuel Miranda and Opetaia Foa’i numbers carried over from the original.
Catherine Laga’aia’s Favorite Things
Food – Samoan dishes including palusami and taro
Music – Pacific Island gospel and contemporary R&B
Hobbies – Siva Samoa (traditional Samoan dance), singing, swimming
Film – The animated Moana, which she grew up watching
Catherine Laga’aia’s Facts
She was 17 when Dwayne Johnson revealed her casting in an April 2024 video, making her one of the youngest actors ever handed a Disney live-action lead.
In her casting statement she introduced herself the Samoan way, naming her grandfather’s village of Fasito’o Uta and her grandmother’s village of Leulumoega-Tuai before mentioning the film.
Johnson filmed the announcement holding a conch shell, mirroring imagery from the 2016 animated film.
She had no professional film or television credits before Moana, which Disney confirmed during the casting rollout.
Auli’i Cravalho stepped back from reprising the role on camera and moved into producing, personally endorsing the search for a younger Moana.
Lin-Manuel Miranda, Opetaia Foa’i and Mark Mancina’s original songs form the backbone of the score.
Her casting was celebrated across Samoan communities in Australia, New Zealand and the islands, with local media in Apia running the news on front pages.
She trained in singing, swimming and movement during pre-production, since the role demands open-water work and live musical numbers.
Thomas Kail, who directed the stage production of Hamilton, is directing the film, his first big-budget feature.
She balanced school commitments with an audition process that ran through multiple rounds before Disney settled on her.
Moana opened on July 10, 2026, turning her from an unknown Sydney schoolgirl into the face of one of the year’s biggest releases in a single weekend.
She sings her own vocals in the film rather than being dubbed, something she pushed for during auditions.
She did a chunk of the press tour in Samoan as well as English, and insisted on Pacific designers for several red carpet looks.
Dwayne Johnson has repeatedly called her casting the easiest decision on the film, saying she walked in and the search was effectively over.
Frequently Asked Questions
How tall is Catherine Laga’aia?
Catherine Laga’aia is about 5 ft 4 in (163 cm) tall.
How much does Catherine Laga’aia weigh?
She weighs around 52 kg (115 lbs).
How old is Catherine Laga’aia?
She was born in 2006, putting her at 19 or 20 in 2026. Her exact date of birth has not been made public.
What is Catherine Laga’aia’s net worth?
Not officially disclosed, but estimates put it under $2 million. She signed on to Moana as a complete unknown, so her salary reflected that rather than the film’s eventual success.
Is Catherine Laga’aia dating anyone?
Catherine Laga’aia has not publicly confirmed a boyfriend or girlfriend, and she keeps her personal life private.
What is Catherine Laga’aia known for?
She is best known for playing Moana in Disney’s live-action Moana, released in July 2026, opposite Dwayne Johnson as Maui.
What is Catherine Laga’aia’s ethnicity and nationality?
She is Australian by nationality and of Samoan descent, with family ties to the Samoan villages of Fasito’o Uta and Leulumoega.
Is Catherine Laga’aia related to Jay Laga’aia?
She is widely reported to be related to New Zealand-Samoan actor Jay Laga’aia, who comes from the same Samoan family line. She has not detailed the connection in depth publicly.
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Last Updated: October 9, 2026 | Source: Healthy Celeb
