Auliʻi Cravalho takes inspiration from 'strong' Disney heroine

Auliʻi Cravalho's role as Moana is one of Disney's most beloved roles. But for inspiration, the actress said she looked at another fellow character—a Chinese folk heroine.

It was Mulan. 

In an interview with NBC News, the actress said, “I remember watching and re-watching the movie Mulan and resonating with her background as an Asian/Pacific Islander and her dedication to family and culture."

"She also was the first princess to run off into battle and kick butt! I still watch that film even as I’m turning 24, and she’s still one of my favorites today,” she added.

Mulan was released in 1998. The film received rave reviews from critics and audiences alike. The story tells of a young woman who fights as a man in disguise to defend the honour of her family.

Elsewhere in the interview, Cravalho said she proudly embraces her diverse mixed descent, which includes roots in her own Native Hawaiian descent, Puerto Rican ancestry, and Chinese, Irish, and Portuguese ancestry.

“I’m of proud mixed descent and grew up with many traditions in my house!” the 24-year-old gushed.