Doua Moua

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Doua Moua
Born (1987-02-07) February 7, 1987 (age 37)
Nakhon Si Thammarat, Thailand
Alma mater Marymount Manhattan College
Occupation(s)Actor, Filmmaker
Years active2004-present
Known for Gran Torino, Mulan

Doua Moua (born February 7, 1987) is an American actor and writer best known for his roles as Spider in the 2008 film Gran Torino and Po in Disney's live-action Mulan .

Contents

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 his birth, his family entered 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 a teacher's suggestion; he also participated in community theater.[ citation needed ] He was graduated from the International School of Minnesota, in Eden Prairie. [3]

Amongst Doua Moua's cousins are former state 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] The film's 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 film, The Harvest, was written by Doua and was to be directed by Dan Ireland starring Doua 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

Television roles
YearTitleRoleNotes
2007 The Naked Brothers Band Chinese ThugUncredited; Episode: "Alex's Clothing Line"
2008The CaptiveHmong GuardTV movie
2009 Michael & Michael Have Issues HakitoriUncredited; 1 episode
2010 Blue Bloods Big Eyes2 episodes
2015Chinese FoodYoung ParkTV Pilot
2015One Bad ChoiceKOEpisode: "Meili Cady"
2016 Criminal Minds: Beyond Borders UnsubEpisode: "The Harmful One"
2017 Marvel's Iron Fist Warrior Guard #1Episode: "The Blessing of Many Fractures"
2017 Veep QuestionerEpisode: "Groundbreaking"
Film roles
YearTitleRoleNotes
2004PalsMingShort film
2004Stealing SummerForeign Guy
2005 Factotum SpectatorUncredited
2005Don't WhistleTouShort film
2007PBI: Paranormal Bureau of InvestigationCocoShort film
2008 Uncertainty Internet Cafe Clerk
2008 Gran Torino Spider
2008ResolveLieutenantShort film
2009Karma CallingChinese Restaurant Employee
2009LaloChinese Food Delivery PersonUncredited; Short film
2009Super SundayAlexShort film
2009PrisonersDanny KimShort film
2009Ex SchemesAaronShort film
2009Across Dot Ave.Coffee Shop Employee
2010 The Last Airbender Earthbender GuardUncredited
2010King's ManHong
2011Dirty MovieWing Thai
2011I Am JuliaNoahShort film
2011hItec!Choggys WestShort film
2012 Greencastle Nu Vang
2012Sparrow LaneBobby MillerShort film
2014The City at NightTsheejShort film
2014Foodie FightJohnShort film
2015 Tracers Skinny Jeans
2015 Memoria Takeshi Motoki
2016SmartassDesk Clerk
2016One ShotScott LawlessShort film
2018TournamentLung
2019Itsy BitsyWounded Man
2020Reality Queen!Klarc Kim
2020 Mulan Po
Filmmaking credits
YearTitleDirectorProducerWriterOther
2014I Die, I Dim, I ShineYesYesNo
2016StaticYesYesYes
2016BedeviledNoNoNoSpecial thanks
2017Dining TableYesYesYes
2017Midnight ClearNoAssociateNo

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References

  1. ↑ Yang, Kou (2017). The Making of Hmong America: Forty Years After the Secret War. Lanham, Maryland: Lexington Books. p. 100. ISBN   978-1498546454.
  2. ↑ "Actor Doua Moua in Gran Torino | Asiance Magazine". asiancemagazine.com. Retrieved 2018-11-21.
  3. 1 2 3 4 Yuen, Laura. "Hmong get a mixed debut in new Eastwood film." Minnesota Public Radio . December 18, 2008. Retrieved on March 18, 2012.
  4. ↑ "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.
  5. ↑ "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. Archived from the original on 2021-12-26. Retrieved 2020-03-12.
  6. ↑ "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.
  7. 1 2 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.
  8. ↑ Schein, Louisa (November 26, 2008). "Hmong actors making history: Meet the Gran Torino family". Twin Cities Daily Planet. Retrieved August 14, 2018.
  9. ↑ "HMONGTEENS: An engaging conversation with Doua Moua, actor and screenwriter". YouTube . 3 HMONG TV. August 24, 2015. Retrieved August 14, 2018.
  10. ↑ 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.
  11. 1 2 N'Duka, Amanda (August 14, 2018). "Disney's 'Mulan' Casts Jimmy Wong & Doua Moua". Deadline. Retrieved August 14, 2018.
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