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Catherine Laga'aia shares what it means to play Moana for a new generation
Summary by The Bellaire Editorial Desk · Byline on the source page: WABC , as published by ABC13 Houston (KTRK / ABC)
· July 3, 2026
· 1 min read
Photo: ABC13 Houston (KTRK / ABC) · view original
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Summary created by The Bellaire Editorial Desk — automated, rule-governed Byline on source page WABC, as published by ABC13 Houston (KTRK / ABC) Original story Read at the source Source published Jul 3, 2026 AI assistance Automated summary drawn from the source’s own published text Prepublication human review No — editorial rules, flagged-item review, and published samples
Every story comes with a passport. How we work · Corrections log · Publisher’s note
Key points Catherine Laga'aia, a 19-year-old actress, has been cast as Moana. She is of Samoan Australian descent and this film marks her feature film debut.
A new movie adaptation of Moana is underway, with a fresh face taking on the title role. Catherine Laga'aia, a 19-year-old actress, has been cast as Moana. She is of Samoan Australian descent and this film marks her feature film debut.
For more information on the movie and Catherine Laga'aia's thoughts on playing Moana, readers can visit the ABC13 Houston website, which features an interview with the actress discussing her role and what it means to her.
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About this story
As published by ABC13 Houston (KTRK / ABC) . The Bellaire surfaces reporting from trusted publishers and adds local editorial context so readers can quickly understand what a story means for their community. We attribute every source, link to the original report, and follow a documented editorial standards policy. To understand how stories are selected and reviewed, read our about page .
For the complete original report, visit ABC13 Houston (KTRK / ABC) . Have a tip or correction? Contact our newsroom .
Category: local ·
Published: July 3, 2026 ·
Source: ABC13 Houston (KTRK / ABC) ·
Reading time: 1 min
Frequently asked about this story
What is this story about? A new movie adaptation of Moana is underway, with a fresh face taking on the title role. Catherine Laga'aia, a 19-year-old actress, has been cast as Moana. She is of Samoan Australian descent and…
When was this published? This article was first published on July 3, 2026 by ABC13 Houston (KTRK / ABC) and curated for The Bellaire readers.
Who reported this story? This story was reported by WABC at ABC13 Houston (KTRK / ABC). To learn more about how The Bellaire selects and reviews stories, see our editorial standards .
Where can I find related coverage? See more local coverage from The Bellaire, or browse our daily briefing and topic hubs .
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