Auli’I Cravalho On Being Disney’s Newest Princess ‘Moana’

Moana is Disney’s newest heroine.

Moana, a film about a teenager (voiced by Auli’i Cravalho) who embarks on a journey to save her people, is currently in theaters. BackstageOL’s Dave Morales sat down with Cravalho herself to chat some more about the new Disney animation and meeting Dwayne Johnson for the first time, who voices a demigod named Maui.

“I haven’t gotten over it yet,” gushed Cravlho about being the newest Disney princess. “Moana is an incredible character. She’s kind of a Disney heroine.”

As for meeting The Rock, the actress said that it was an experience that included a bouquet of flowers. “[It] was really fun; he actually brought me flowers the first time I met him.”

She continued, “I think we had a great bond, because he has that Aloha-spirit. He grew up in Hawaii, just like I did. He’s incredibly kind, regardless of all of his success.”

The film’s synopsis:

An adventurous teenager sails out on a daring mission to save her people. During her journey, Moana meets the once-mighty demigod Maui, who guides her in her quest to become a master way-finder. Together they sail across the open ocean on an action-packed voyage, encountering enormous monsters and impossible odds. Along the way, Moana fulfills the ancient quest of her ancestors and discovers the one thing she always sought: her own identity.

Moana features music written by Lin-Manuel Miranda, score creator Mark Mancina and musician Opetaia Foaʻi (founder of the world music band Te Vaka).

Watch the full interview with Cravalho below: