When I sat down with Catherine Laga’aia to celebrate Disney’s live-action Moana, I decided professionalism could wait. Instead, I arrived dressed as Hei-Hei.

Not a subtle nod to the character. Not a Hawaiian shirt. I committed fully, complete with feathers, a tail, and what quickly became the warmest outfit ever worn during a heatwave.

Sadly for me, this wasn’t just a publicity stunt. I had unfinished business with Disney. “I don’t know if you know this,” I told Catherine. “I auditioned for the live-action Hei-Hei.”

Without hesitating for even a second, Catherine instantly played along. “Ah yes,” she smiled. “I think I saw your tape.”

“So… What didn’t you like about it? Because it went to someone else apparently.”

“I don’t know,” she laughed. “We just went a different direction. It happens to the best of us.”

Every struggling chicken-actor dreams of hearing those words. Fortunately, Catherine wasn’t willing to completely shut the door on my Hollywood ambitions. She joked that perhaps there could still be an opportunity if Hei-Hei happened to be unavailable for a future sequel.

If nothing else, I like to think my campaign to become Disney’s backup chicken remains very much alive.

By the end of the interview, I was sweating through approximately six layers of synthetic feathers, struggling to stand up because I’d accidentally been sitting on Hei-Hei’s tail for the entire conversation, and questioning every life decision that had brought me to this moment.

I regret absolutely none of it.

Apparently Dwayne Johnson Has One Unexpected Weakness

Once we’d finished discussing my incredibly short-lived Disney acting career, our attention turned to Catherine’s equally famous co-star, Dwayne Johnson.

Johnson has spent the last two decades building a reputation as somebody who seems capable of doing almost anything. He’s one of Hollywood’s biggest stars, a wrestling icon, an entrepreneur, a producer and, somehow, someone who still finds time to spend 25 hours a day in the gym.

So I wanted to know whether there was anything Catherine genuinely believed she could beat him at.

“Texting,” she said almost immediately. According to Catherine, Johnson is “a voice memo kind of guy”, explaining that he’d regularly be completely absorbed in recording lengthy voice messages right up until the moment cameras rolled.

“It’s so funny to watch,” she explained. “He’ll be really locked into this voice memo that’s like three minutes long and then it’ll cut and he’s straight into Maui.”

It also answered one of life’s greatest mysteries… The reason Dwayne Johnson never replies to my messages.

Catherine very kindly agreed that was almost certainly the explanation, joking that perhaps I simply make him nervous.

I’m choosing to believe that’s true.

Her Dad Gave Her The Most Brutally Honest Advice Imaginable

Taking on the role of Moana means joining one of Disney’s biggest modern franchises, but Catherine had a unique advantage that very few actors can claim.

Her dad, Jay Laga’aia, has already experienced life inside another Disney phenomenon after playing Captain Typho in the Star Wars prequel trilogy.

Naturally, I wondered whether he’d shared any words of wisdom before she stepped into such an enormous role.

As it turns out… Yes. Although they perhaps weren’t the words she was expecting.

Catherine recalled speaking to her dad about the scale of Moana, only for him to interrupt her with a reminder that was wonderfully, brutally honest.

“Caty,” he told her, “Star Wars is a lot bigger than Moana.”

It’s exactly the sort of loving reality check only a parent could deliver.

Thankfully, Catherine had the perfect comeback ready. “I was like… ‘Yeah, okay,” she laughed. “But you know what? I’m in more of the movie than you are.’”

Beyond the family teasing, though, his genuine advice clearly meant a great deal. Having experienced huge studio productions himself, Jay encouraged his daughter to advocate for herself, trust her instincts and never be afraid to speak up, even on sets filled with hundreds of people.

It’s thoughtful advice that Catherine says stayed with her throughout filming. Although, disappointingly, he apparently forgot to mention that one day she’d be interviewed by a six-foot-two journalist dressed as a giant chicken.

The Disney Perk Everyone Dreams About

There is one question I think everyone secretly wants answered whenever someone joins the Disney family. Do they get free Disneyland tickets?

Catherine admitted that while unlimited lifetime access sadly isn’t part of the package, Disney has organised a special family trip that she’ll be taking with several of her siblings.

The moment she carefully avoided saying exactly when it was happening, I immediately accused her of keeping it secret because she knew I’d somehow invite myself along.

She laughed before politely confirming absolutely nothing. Fair enough.

Catherine also spoke beautifully about what becoming Moana means to her. Millions of children are about to meet this version of the character for the very first time, and she hopes they take away the same message that has always defined Moana herself.

Rather than simply seeing an adventurous Disney princess, Catherine wants young audiences to believe they can push beyond the limits they place on themselves.

“I just hope people have kind of that sense of dreaming that Moana has,” she explained. “She has this incredible imagination… That they can continue to push the ceiling and push the boundaries of what they think they can do.”

It’s a lovely sentiment, and one that perfectly captures why Moana has resonated with audiences ever since the original animated film arrived in 2016.

Disney’s Live-Action Moana Is Bringing A Modern Classic To Life

Disney’s live-action Moana revisits one of the studio’s most beloved recent animated films, retelling the story of the adventurous young wayfinder who sets sail across the Pacific Ocean to save her people.

Leading the cast is Catherine Laga’aia in her first major film role, stepping into the shoes of a character who has become a modern Disney icon. Alongside her is Dwayne Johnson, who reprises his role as the larger-than-life demigod Maui after first voicing the character in the animated original.

The project continues Disney’s hugely successful run of live-action adaptations, combining practical filmmaking, spectacular ocean locations and updated visual effects while remaining faithful to the heart of the original story. Fans can also expect many of the songs that helped make Moana such a phenomenon, alongside new material created for this reimagining.

For Catherine, it’s a career-defining role that instantly places her at the centre of one of Disney’s biggest global franchises. Judging by our conversation, however, she seems remarkably grounded about the whole experience, balancing genuine excitement with an infectious sense of humour that made the interview an absolute joy.

As for me… I may not have landed the role of Hei-Hei this time around.

But if Disney ever needs an emergency replacement chicken, they know exactly where to find me.