When Auli'i Cravalho was cast in Disney's "Moana," the teen and her mom were living on food stamps. Cravalho, who voices the titular chieftan's daughter in "Moana," said in a recent interview with "People" that the pair were squeezed into a one-bedroom apartment in the Hawaiian city of Mililani when she got her big break.

Cravalho shot to fame in 2016 after voicing the lead in "Moana," Disney's highest-grossing animated princess movie other than the "Frozen" titles. She was 16 when it premiered — and told People that before the movie, she was living on food stamps.

But something that I wasn’t expecting to appreciate so much about Moana 2 is getting the chance to see the animated character grow and mature. When CinemaBlend spoke to the princess’s voice actress, Auli’i Cravalho,

Auli’i Cravalho’s breakout role as "Moana" was a transformative moment for both her budding career and her family’s journey.

Moana star Auli’i Cravalho paid her family forward for supporting her in her rise to fame. © 2024 Fortune Media IP Limited. All Rights Reserved. Use of this site ...

Moana” made her a breakout star. Now Cravalho, at 24, is back in the sequel, while also making her Broadway debut and embracing edgier parts.

Moana 2 star Auli’i Cravalho has revealed she bought her mom a house after the first film in the franchise aired in 2016. The 24-year-old, who rose to fame as the voice of the Polynesian chieftess in the Walt Disney animated movie,

Disney’s Moana character might wish she could be the perfect daughter, but her voice actress Auliʻi Cravalho can rest easy knowing that she’s been able to stay grounded and give back to her parents. The 24-year-old opened up to People about much her mother,

Auli’i Cravalho, the voice behind Disney’s beloved Moana, is reflecting on her incredible journey from a young girl living in a one-bedroom apartment to a successful actress who’s now helping her mother retire comfortably.