Auli’i Cravalho

Auli'i Cravalho is an actress and singer recognized for her work in film, television, and theater. Cravalho gained international attention for her debut as the voice of the title character in Disney Animation's "Moana." She was selected for the role after an audition process that included hundreds of candidates, making her entrance into the entertainment industry while still a high school student in Hawaii. "Moana," directed by Ron Clements and John Musker, achieved significant commercial success, grossing over $600 million worldwide and earning two Academy Award nominations, including Best Animated Feature.

Cravalho performed the Oscar-nominated song "How Far I'll Go" at the Academy Awards and received the Annie Award for Outstanding Achievement in Voice Acting in an Animated Feature. She also earned the Best Animated Female award at the Alliance of Women Film Journalists Awards. Through her work, Cravalho has advocated for authentic representation and diversity in the entertainment industry, emphasizing the importance of Hawaiian culture and heritage in storytelling.

Her subsequent screen credits include roles in the NBC drama series "Rise," the Netflix drama "All Together Now," the supernatural comedy "Darby and the Dead," and the Amazon Prime Video science fiction series "The Power." She portrayed Janis in the movie adaptation of the Broadway musical "Mean Girls." On stage, Cravalho made her West End debut as Eva Perón in a concert production of "Evita" at Royal Drury Lane. Her additional theater credits include "Sunset Boulevard" at the Kennedy Center and "Children of Eden" at Lincoln Center.

Cravalho reprised her voice role in Disney's sequel, "Moana 2." At age 24, she became the youngest person to play Sally Bowles on Broadway in the revival of "Cabaret at the Kit Kat Club" at the August Wilson Theatre, starring opposite Adam Lambert and alongside Bebe Neuwirth. For this role, she worked with a dialect coach and utilized BBC radio to refine her British accent.

In addition to her on-screen and stage work, Cravalho has contributed voice-over performances for Amazon, Apple, Audible, Disney, National Geographic, Paramount, and video game studios. She serves as executive producer of the live-action adaptation of "Moana." Cravalho has also pursued academic studies in environmental science at Columbia University. Her career spans animation, live-action film, television, stage, and music, with a focus on cultural representation and industry diversity.