Auli'i Cravalho From 'Moana' Has A Bright Future

Disney got itself another beautiful and powerful heroine in the form of Moana, a 16-year-old Polynesian girl on a journey across the ocean to save her home island, and who found herself in the process. One reason viewers probably related so much to the film is that Auli'i Cravalho, the voice of the main character, is so much like Moana herself. The breakout teenager with the big voice boasts an undeniable charisma and Auli'i Cravalho's 2017 projects prove that she's on her own path of discovery, just like Moana.

Cravalho's story up until now is the stuff Hollywood dreams are made of. She was just a normal 15-year-old Hawaiian girl when, by a twist of fate, an audition tape for another event landed in the hands of a Disney casting agent and the rest was history. In a featurette announcing the casting of Moana, casting director Rachel Sutton said, "Auli'i was the very last girl that I saw on my last day of casting." It was clearly meant to be!

Now that she's enjoying the success of her first major film, rubbing elbows with Dwayne Johnson and Lin-Manuel Miranda, there's no doubt that this talented young lady will go on to bigger things. As of right now, though, Cravalho's IMDb page only lists a short film called Gone Fishing, to be released in 2017. In Gone Fishing, Cravalho reprises her role as the voice of Moana as she accompanies Maui (Johnson's character) on a mission to catch a fish with his magical fishhook.

With a performance at the 2017 Oscars of Moana's nominated song "How Far I'll Go", Cravalho still has another huge milestone ahead of her — and she should enjoy every moment of the ride.

That doesn't mean that she isn't looking ahead, though. Cravalho is still young and in an interview with Coming Soon, she confessed that she wants to continue to do films, but go to school at the same time. She said of her future projects,

"There are a few things cooking! This is not at all what I thought I’d be doing but, now that I’m in this industry, I don’t want to get out. That’s for sure. I also really enjoy microbiology. That was actually what I had my sights set on before all this happened. I’m hoping to pursue both ... By no means should you ever limit yourself because of what others think or because of their perceptions of what someone looks like in a certain field ... They’re both my passions and I just can’t leave other behind."

As for any future roles, Cravalho wants to keep the same spirit she discovered while playing Moana. She told Harper's Bazaar,

"I suppose my dream role would be anything that continues in that direction of either self discovery or just having a strong, kick butt-girl. I'd love to play a role like that."

Cravalho's future in 2017 and beyond looks like it'll keep her on the wonderful and inspiring path she's already on.