Doua Moua (born February 7, 1987) is an American actor and writer known for his role as Spider in the 2008 film Gran Torino and Po in Disney's live-action Mulan.
Doua Moua | |
|---|---|
| Born | February 7, 1987 Nakhon Si Thammarat, Thailand |
| Alma mater | Marymount Manhattan College |
| Occupation(s) | Actor, Filmmaker |
| Years active | 2004-present |
| Known for | Gran Torino, Mulan |
Background
Doua Moua was born in a refugee camp in Thailand to Laos-born parents of Hmong descent who had fled their homeland because of the Laotian Civil War.[1] Six months after he was born, his family migrated to Minnesota as refugees, and he was raised in the city of St. Paul.[2] While in middle school, Doua joined the choir and theater classes at the suggestion of his teacher. Aside from school theater, he also participated in community theater.[citation needed] He graduated from the International School of Minnesota in Eden Prairie, Minnesota.[3] He is cousins with former senator Mee Moua and dancer-actor Aidan Prince.[4][5]
Career
Moua moved to New York City to pursue a career in acting and booked his first acting job as an extra on Law and Order: SVU.[6] Moua worked in an Italian restaurant to finance his career.[3] He continued auditioning for minor roles until he decided to audition for Gran Torino. While most roles took about a week for call backs, Doua had to wait three months until he finally got a response.[7] His casting was considered "a catalyst for more Hmong to get into filmmaking".[8] Moua said that he had no regrets in playing as a gang member, since, in the words of Laura Yuen of Minnesota Public Radio, "gangs consumed his brother's life while they were growing up in St. Paul."[3] Moua added that many first generation Hmong are affected by gangs and drift into gangs due to a lack of father figures.[3]
After the release of Gran Torino, Doua continued to appear in film and television, noticeably as villains. When his parents asked why he continued to play "mean" people, he jokingly stated that his parents had given him "mean eyebrows" due to his heritage. He decided to create a movie based on his own personal life as a Hmong American in Minnesota due to the lack of Hmong representation.[9] The movie, entitled The Harvest, was written by Doua himself and was to be directed by Dan Ireland with Doua also starring alongside Russell Wong and Ellen Wong.[7] Ireland has since died[10] with Li Lu reportedly directing. The movie is still in development.[citation needed]
Doua was cast in the live action Disney adaptation of Mulan as Po.[11] He is also a writer and was a semi-finalist for the Academy's Nicholl's Fellowship for his coming-of-age script "The Harvest."[11]
Filmography
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2007 | The Naked Brothers Band | Chinese Thug | Uncredited; Episode: "Alex's Clothing Line" |
| 2008 | The Captive | Hmong Guard | TV Movie |
| 2009 | Michael & Michael Have Issues | Hakitori | Uncredited; 1 episode |
| 2010 | Blue Bloods | Big Eyes | 2 episodes |
| 2015 | Chinese Food | Young Park | TV Pilot |
| 2015 | One Bad Choice | KO | Episode: "Meili Cady" |
| 2016 | Criminal Minds: Beyond Borders | Unsub | Episode: "The Harmful One" |
| 2017 | Marvel's Iron Fist | Warrior Guard #1 | Episode: "The Blessing of Many Fractures" |
| 2017 | Veep | Questioner | Episode: "Groundbreaking" |
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2004 | Pals | Ming | Short film |
| 2004 | Stealing Summer | Foreign Guy | |
| 2005 | Factotum | Spectator | Uncredited |
| 2005 | Don't Whistle | Tou | Short film |
| 2007 | PBI: Paranormal Bureau of Investigation | Coco | Short film |
| 2008 | Uncertainty | Internet Cafe Clerk | |
| 2008 | Gran Torino | Spider | |
| 2008 | Resolve | Lieutenant | Short film |
| 2009 | Karma Calling | Chinese Restaurant Employee | |
| 2009 | Lalo | Chinese Food Delivery Person | Uncredited; Short film |
| 2009 | Super Sunday | Alex | Short film |
| 2009 | Prisoners | Danny Kim | Short film |
| 2009 | Ex Schemes | Aaron | Short film |
| 2009 | Across Dot Ave. | Coffee Shop Employee | |
| 2010 | The Last Airbender | Earthbender Guard | Uncredited |
| 2010 | King's Man | Hong | |
| 2011 | Dirty Movie | Wing Thai | |
| 2011 | I Am Julia | Noah | Short film |
| 2011 | hItec! | Choggys West | Short film |
| 2012 | Greencastle | Nu Vang | |
| 2012 | Sparrow Lane | Bobby Miller | Short film |
| 2014 | The City at Night | Tsheej | Short film |
| 2014 | Foodie Fight | John | Short film |
| 2015 | Tracers | Skinny Jeans | |
| 2015 | Memoria | Takeshi Motoki | |
| 2016 | Smartass | Desk Clerk | |
| 2016 | One Shot | Scott Lawless | Short film |
| 2018 | Tournament | Lung | |
| 2019 | Itsy Bitsy | Wounded Man | |
| 2020 | Reality Queen! | Klarc Kim | |
| 2020 | Mulan | Po |
| Year | Title | Director | Producer | Writer | Other |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2014 | I Die, I Dim, I Shine | Yes | Yes | No | |
| 2016 | Static | Yes | Yes | Yes | |
| 2016 | Bedeviled | No | No | No | Special thanks |
| 2017 | Dining Table | Yes | Yes | Yes | |
| 2017 | Midnight Clear | No | Associate | No |
References
- ^ Yang, Kou (2017). The Making of Hmong America: Forty Years After the Secret War. Lanham, Maryland: Lexington Books. p. 100. ISBN 978-1498546454.
- ^ "Actor Doua Moua in Gran Torino | Asiance Magazine". asiancemagazine.com. Retrieved 2018-11-21.
- ^ a b c d Yuen, Laura. "Hmong get a mixed debut in new Eastwood film." Minnesota Public Radio. December 18, 2008. Retrieved on March 18, 2012.
- ^ "Doua Moua on Instagram: "Hanging with my cousin Senator Mee Moua!! Named one of the most powerful woman in Washington!! . . . #cousins #family #hmong #hmongpeople…"". Instagram. Retrieved 2020-03-12.
- ^ "Aidan Prince aka BAHBOY™️ on Instagram: "My uncle @douamoua is Po in Disney's @mulan What an awesome movie. Go watch it because you will love it too. What an awesome night! .…"". Instagram. Retrieved 2020-03-12.
- ^ "Doua Moua, Actor & Writer, on working with Clint Eastwood in Gran Torino, Role on Criminal Minds: Beyond Borders, & Latest Film - The Harvest. | scottbonnie". scottbonnie. Retrieved 2018-11-21.
- ^ a b Bonnie, Scott (December 9, 2015). "Doua Moua, Actor & Writer, on working with Clint Eastwood in Gran Torino, Role on Criminal Minds: Beyond Borders, & Latest Film - The Harvest". Scott Bonnie. Retrieved August 14, 2018.
- ^ Schein, Louisa (November 26, 2008). "Hmong actors making history: Meet the Gran Torino family". Twin Cities Daily Planet. Retrieved August 14, 2018.
- ^ "HMONGTEENS: An engaging conversation with Doua Moua, actor and screenwriter". YouTube. 3 HMONG TV. August 24, 2015. Retrieved August 14, 2018.
- ^ Dagan, Carmel (April 15, 2016). "Dan Ireland, 'Whole Wide World' Director Who Co-Founded Seattle Film Festival, Dies at 57". Variety. Retrieved August 14, 2018.
- ^ a b N'Duka, Amanda (August 14, 2018). "Disney's 'Mulan' Casts Jimmy Wong & Doua Moua". Deadline. Retrieved August 14, 2018.