Auliʻi Cravalho

Celebrity   , , , , ,
Auliʻi Cravalho

Name: Chloe Auliʻi Cravalho (pronounced ah-OO-lee-EE kruh-VAH-lyo)

Introduction: Auliʻi Cravalho is an American actress and singer who garnered international attention at the age of 14 by voicing the titular character in the Disney animated musical film Moana (2016). She has since expanded her career into live-action film, television, and Broadway, showcasing her powerful vocal abilities and acting range.

Date of Birth: November 22, 2000

Height: 5 ft 2 in (1.59m)

Place of Birth: Kohala, Hawaii, U.S. (She was raised in Kohala and Mililani, Hawaii).

Family:

  • Parents: Dwayne Cravalho (father) and Puanani Cravalho (mother). Her parents divorced when she was young. She was primarily raised by her mother.
  • Siblings: Information not publicly available.
  • Spouse/Children: Not married and no publicly known children.

Profession: Actress, singer.

Nationality: American

Religion: Information not explicitly stated in provided sources, but her Native Hawaiian heritage is a significant part of her identity.

College or University Attended: She was accepted to Columbia University for environmental studies but has repeatedly deferred her entrance to focus on her acting career.

Biography and What Famous For:
Auliʻi Cravalho was born in Kohala, Hawaii, and grew up with a diverse heritage including Chinese, Native Hawaiian, Puerto Rican, Portuguese, and Irish roots. She began singing at a young age and was a member of her high school’s glee club at Kamehameha Schools in Honolulu.

Her big break came in 2015 when, at just 14 years old, she was cast as the voice of Moana in Disney’s animated musical Moana. She was discovered after a talent agent spotted her singing at a charity competition in Oahu, even though she initially wasn’t going to audition. Her powerful singing voice, particularly on the Oscar-nominated song “How Far I’ll Go,” and her fearless portrayal of the adventurous Polynesian princess, quickly made her a global sensation. The film’s success solidified her as a rising star and a beloved Disney icon. She reprised her role as Moana in Ralph Breaks the Internet (2018) and Moana 2 (2024).

Cravalho has since demonstrated her versatility across different mediums:

  • Television: She starred in the NBC drama series Rise (2018) as Lissa, showcasing her acting and musical theater talents. She also voiced Hailey Banks in the Disney animated series Hailey’s On It! (2023-2024).
  • Film: She has taken on leading roles in various streaming films, including the Netflix drama All Together Now (2020), the Hulu queer romantic comedy Crush (2022), and the supernatural comedy Darby and the Dead (2022). In 2024, she played Janis ‘Imi’ike in the film adaptation of the Broadway musical Mean Girls.
  • Stage: Cravalho has embraced live theater, making her West End debut as Eva Peron in Evita at the Theatre Royal Drury Lane in 2023. She made her Broadway debut as Sally Bowles in Cabaret in 2024.
  • Producer: She is also an executive producer for Disney’s upcoming live-action adaptation of Moana (2026), demonstrating her continued involvement with the character and brand, while advocating for a new actress to take on the live-action role to allow for proper indigenous representation.

Auliʻi Cravalho is famous for her breakout role as Moana, her impressive vocal abilities, and her growing presence in both on-screen and stage productions. She publicly came out as bisexual in 2020 and is open about her identity, also advocating for better representation in media. She has also spoken about living with Ehlers-Danlos syndrome.

Have participated:

  • Films:
    • Moana (2016, voice)
    • Ralph Breaks the Internet (2018, voice)
    • All Together Now (2020)
    • Crush (2022)
    • Darby and the Dead (2022)
    • Mean Girls (2024)
    • Moana 2 (2024, voice)
    • Moana (2026, live-action, executive producer)
  • Television:
    • Rise (2018)
    • The Little Mermaid Live! (2019, TV concert) as Ariel
    • Lego Disney Princess: The Castle Quest (2023, voice)
    • Hailey’s On It! (2023-2024, voice)
    • The Power (2023)
  • Stage:
    • Evita (2023, West End) as Eva Peron
    • Sunset Boulevard (2023, Kennedy Center) as Betty Schaefer
    • Cabaret (2024, Broadway) as Sally Bowles
  • Awards:
    • Annie Award for Outstanding Achievement in Voice Acting in an Animated Feature Production (for Moana, 2017)
    • Teen Choice Award for Choice Movie: Breakout Star (for Moana, 2017)
    • Various nominations including MTV Movie & TV Awards, Kids’ Choice Awards, and Young Artist Awards.