'I Was So Embarrassed': Moana Star Auliʻi Cravalho Recalls Her First Encounter With Co-Star Dwayne Johnson
In a recent interview, Moana actress Auliʻi Cravalho recalled how her mother’s silly remark made her first encounter with co-star Dwayne Johnson embarrassing. Check out the hilarious deets!
Auliʻi Cravalho, who was thrilled about working with Dwyane Johnson on the animated Moana franchise, had an embarrassing start! In a recent interview with People, the actress recalled her first encounter with the Rock. She shared how the Baywatch actor came with “flowers” for their first meeting and “enveloped me in the largest hug.”
However, Cravalho — who voices Moana in the 2016 Disney film and its latest sequel — recalled the moment her mother, Puanani, made things awkward. Johnson — who voices the demigod Maui — hugged her mother, and she made the most quirky and silly remark.
“And my mom was like, ‘Ooh, I'm going to go Rock climbing,’" Cravalho recalled. “I was so embarrassed because who says that? Who says that? Oh my God. That's a memory that will never get out of my head,” she added with a laugh. Nevertheless, the co-stars ended up bonding and developed a dynamic while working and promoting their films.
So much so that the duo is now part of multiple text and email chains! She also noted how their “Zooms” together to promote Moana 2 were quite different from the press tour of the first film. Cravalho believes it is also “a cultural thing” that connects them so well. “I still see him as an all-knowing uncle. I still see him as someone who's older than me to be respected,” she added.
The first installment of the animated franchise, released in 2016, was a massive hit and grossed a whopping $687.2 million worldwide. Moana 2 follows the lead, embarking on another dangerous adventure across the shore. “After receiving an unexpected call from her wayfinding ancestors, Moana must journey to the far seas of Oceania and into dangerous, long-lost waters for an adventure unlike anything she's ever faced,” says the official synopsis.
Johnson and Cravalho are also working on the franchise’s live-action adaptation as executive producers. While the Jumanji actor is set to bring his character Maui to life, newcomer Catherine Laga'aia has been cast to portray the titular Dinsey heroine Moana.
Moana 2 is in theaters now.