Moana star Michael Alisa on rejecting critics and creating a legacy for the next generation

Michael Tuatagaloa Alisa, who portrays Moana's ancestor Matai, or "Tautai" Vasa, in the live-action adaptation of the Disney film, attributes his casting to "pure luck." It was his sister who persuaded him to audition, emphasizing the rarity of opportunities for Pacific Islanders to play characters from their own heritage on screen.

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When is the next time they're going to make a movie like this, where Pacific Islanders are playing Pacific Islanders?

"When is the next time they're going to make a movie like this, where Pacific Islanders are playing Pacific Islanders?" Alisa recalled asking. He expressed feeling fortunate, believing many others could have filled the role, and felt he was simply in the right place at the right time. Although his character has no speaking lines, Tautai Vasa's presence is pivotal, symbolizing a strong, brave voyager who inspires Moana's own journey beyond the reef.

Alisa, who is Samoan and was raised in Hawai'i, shared his deep personal connection to the film's themes of culture, heritage, and identity. He admitted to tearing up on set, reflecting on his own ancestors and grandparents, feeling their guidance and support. This emotional resonance underscores the significance of the film for Polynesian representation.

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I feel so lucky. There are so many people who I felt like could have been this role, and it honestly felt like just being in the right place at the right time.

Before acting, Alisa pursued a career in football, playing college ball at Brigham Young University with aspirations for the NFL. When that dream didn't materialize, his "heart was shattered." He transitioned into sales and business before discovering acting in 2020. Despite bombing his first monologue, the adrenaline rush reminded him of the high-stakes performance of football, leading him to fall in love with acting.

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So many times on set I was tearing up because I felt that personally in my life, of thinking of my ancestors, thinking of my grandparents, of them watching over me, of guiding me, of cheering me on.

Reflecting on his experience, Alisa stated, "Even if, for whatever reason I never get into another film again, and Moana is the only film I end up in for the rest of my life, I'm so glad it was this one." He described the role as a dream come true and a "cream of the crop experience" personally.

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I was telling my wife, I was like, 'you know what? Even if, for whatever reason I never get into another film again, and Moana is the only film I end up in for the rest of my life, I'm so glad it was this one'.