Who Voices Moana?

Auliʻi Cravalho is the voice of Moana.

Moana is a 2016 Disney animated film directed by John Musker and Ron Clements. The film follows the adventures of an island girl, Moana, in the ocean as she sets out on a voyage to save her land and people. She is the daughter of the village chief. Moana’s journey highlights her bravery as she went against her father to explore the ocean and return the heart of the goddess Te Fiti, which was stolen by the demigod Maui, in order to restore nature's balance.

The film was a commercial success and was praised for its animation, music, and strong portrayal of the female lead. The plot of the film is inspired by Polynesian myths and it was well-researched in order to maintain cultural accuracy. Its sequel is set to be released on November 29, 2024. Moana's character resonated with the audience because of the voice behind it, of Auliʻi Cravalho.

Who is the voice of Moana?

Auliʻi Cravalho is the voice of Moana in both films. She is an American actress born on November 22, 2000, in Kohala, Hawaii. She made her acting debut with Disney’s Moana in 2016. At the age of 14, she was cast for Moana, and she will be reprising her role in Moana 2 at the age of 24. Walt Disney Animation Studios auditioned thousands of Pacific Island girls before casting Auliʻi Cravalho for the role. She was spotted by a casting agent of Oahu at a charity competition. He took her to Los Angeles for the auditions. Disney wanted a girl who was brave and confident, and Cravalho was selected because of these qualities.

After Moana, she went on to do many projects as an actor and voice artist including Rise (2018), Ralph Breaks the Internet (2018), All Together Now (2020), The Power (2023), Hailey's On It! (2023-2024), Mean Girls (2024), etc. She also did many stage performances including The Little Mermaid (2019), Sunset Boulevard (2023), Evita (2023), Children of Eden (2024), and Cabaret (2024).

Will Auliʻi Cravalho Return as Moana in the Live-Action movie?

Auliʻi Cravalho will not be playing Moana in the live-action adaptation. After the announcement of the Moana live-action in 2023, Cravalho shared a video on her Instagram to clarify that she will not be part of the live-action. According to her, casting should accurately represent the character, and the actor who will be playing Moana should be young, around 16 years old, someone who is unknown and belongs to the Pacific Islands. She will be passing her baton and she was grateful because it changed her life.

Catherine Laga‘aia will play the role of Moana in the live-action adaptation. She is a 17-year-old native Australian actress. She is from a Samoan background as her grandfather is from Savai‘i and her grandmother is from Samoa. She has starred in 3 episodes of The Lost Flowers of Alice Hart in 2023. The filming of the Moana live-action started in July 2024 and it is set to release in 2026.