Catherine Laga'aia jokes about 'nepotism' ahead of live-action Moana

Catherine Laga'aia says her father, Star Wars actor Jay Laga'aia, helped inspire her career as she prepares for her lead role in Disney's live-action Moana, which opens in theaters Friday.

Speaking to People, the Australian actress joked, "I inherited nepotism, that's for sure. I'll take that anytime," referring to her father's acting career. Jay Laga'aia played Captain Typho in Star Wars: Episode II – Attack of the Clones (2002) and Episode III – Revenge of the Sith (2005).

Laga'aia said she wanted to make her father proud while taking on the role of Moana. She said his experience in the industry motivated her and that she hoped to continue the legacy he helped build.

The film also stars Dwayne Johnson, who reprises his role as Maui from the animated movies. Johnson recently said wearing about 40 pounds of prosthetics, hair, and body pieces made performing more challenging, requiring him to adjust how he acted and expressed emotion.

Johnson also said the production worked to authentically represent Polynesian culture across all areas of the film.

Disney's live-action Moana arrives in theaters on Friday.