Actor Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson has said starring in a live-action adaptation of Disney’s Moana has taught him “life lessons”.
The 54-year-old was speaking at the launch of a new Moana and Lilo And Stitch-themed play area at Great Ormond Street Hospital (Gosh) in London on Monday, where he appeared alongside co-star Catherine Laga’aia, who plays the titular character in the live-action film.
Johnson, who plays Maui in the film, told the Press Association: “Playing Maui in Moana over the course of the past 10 years has been such a real privilege and just made my job awesome.
“But also I think the turning it into a live-action was an even greater experience, and I’ll tell you why, because you realise with these kind of lessons, life lessons and values, and even music and choreography, and song, it’s so much richer when it’s real human beings doing it in a live-action version.
“Because it’s real flesh and blood, real people looking each other in the eyes, real chemistry, and also on top of all that we had an opportunity to find our real Moana (Laga’aia).”
During their visit to Gosh, the two actors met 10-year-old patient Bella, who was rushed to the hospital with a brain tumour aged four, eventually losing the ability to speak before becoming obsessed with the song Shiny from the original animated film and singing it.
Her mother Sophie credits the song with helping her regain the ability to speak.
Johnson added: “Today was an awesome day, myself and the star of Moana, Catherine Laga’aia, who plays our Moana, we were able to visit the Great Ormond Street Hospital, and this charity moment was really incredible.”
The new play area has been created through Disney’s partnership with the Gosh Charity.
Moana, the third film in the franchise and the first live-action movie, following the animated Moana (2016) and Moana 2 (2024), will be released in the UK on July 10.
