'Moana' Star Auli'i Cravalho Dishes On Becoming Disney's Newest Heroine

Our new fave Auli’i Cravalho is talking all about her new movie, Moana.

“Moana is definitely a Disney heroine. She’s wonderful, empowered, empowering. I’m really excited for everyone to see,” the 15-year-old starlet told Seventeen mag.

Check out what else Auli’i shared about Moana:

On Moana: “I think [this movie is] really important because it’s inspired by Polynesia. Polynesia’s a real place, guys, and I’m Polynesian. Historians can tell you that Polynesians were the greatest navigators in the world, and I hope that all of you are inspired to maybe not journey across the ocean like Moana does, but to journey to find yourself.”

On Moana not having a prince: “Moana doesn’t have a love interest because this movie is about a journey – a physical one across hundreds and hundreds of miles of ocean, but also an emotional one of Moana finding herself. She doesn’t need a man or love interest to find herself.”

On her favorite Disney princess before Moana: “Mulan, definitely Mulan. I thought that even at a young age she totally broke that gender norm. And she did it headstrong. She also really respected, loved and carried her family wherever she went, which is something that I want to do. No matter where I go, I want to carry my family.”

On working with The Rock: “That deserves a question because he’s amazing. He’s really kind. Not that I was expecting him to be mean, but he’s had so much success but yet he’s still deeply rooted to his culture and still has that aloha spirit that I really like.”

Moana is out in theaters in late November.