A Sydney public high school is celebrating an extraordinary moment after two of its former students secured leading roles in major international films screening at the same time.
Catherine Lagaʻaia, 19, plays the title role in Disney’s live-action adaptation of Moana, while 26-year-old Milly Alcock has taken on the role of DC superhero Supergirl. Both actresses developed their early performance skills at Newtown High School of the Performing Arts in Sydney’s inner west.
Their latest films have been shown simultaneously at Dendy Newtown, where posters featuring the two former students have generated excitement and pride among teachers, current students, cinema staff and members of the local community.
For Newtown High’s head drama teacher, Daniel Kavanagh, the success of both performers reflects not only their individual talent but also the school’s long-standing commitment to supporting young people pursuing careers in the creative industries.
Kavanagh first encountered Lagaʻaia when she auditioned for the school at about 11 years of age. He said teachers were not only searching for children who could deliver a polished performance.
The audition process also focused on whether applicants could listen carefully, work collaboratively, respond creatively and contribute positively during group exercises.
Lagaʻaia impressed staff with her intelligence, enthusiasm and willingness to participate. Kavanagh remembered her as a dedicated and optimistic student who understood the creative process and remained fully engaged with the work being taught.
The daughter of actor and singer Jay Lagaʻaia, she later secured the breakthrough opportunity to portray Moana in Disney’s live-action film alongside Dwayne Johnson, who returned to play the demigod Maui.
The role arrived at a particularly challenging time because Lagaʻaia was completing Year 12 when she was required to travel to the United States for filming.
Rather than abandon her studies, she continued working toward her Higher School Certificate while balancing the demands of a major Hollywood production.
Newtown High coordinated with her family, tutors working on the film set and education authorities to ensure she could continue submitting assessments from overseas.
Special arrangements were also made through the NSW Education Standards Authority, allowing her to complete her final examinations while in the United States.
Despite the pressure of leading a large international production, Lagaʻaia remained focused on her education and graduated in 2025.
Her teacher said she managed the unusual circumstances with maturity and continued to see herself as an ordinary member of the school community, rather than allowing her growing public profile to change her attitude.
Alcock’s path into the entertainment industry followed a different route.
She was already in Year 11 when Kavanagh began teaching at Newtown High about a decade ago. He remembered her as a quiet, observant and highly analytical student who paid close attention to the behaviour of people around her.
Looking back, he said those qualities appeared well suited to screen acting, where subtle expressions and careful observation can be just as important as dramatic performance.
While at school, Alcock also joined an overseas educational tour that included acting and theatre workshops in Britain.
Because the cost of the trip created financial difficulties, she received partial scholarship assistance that helped make the opportunity possible.
Kavanagh said Alcock made the most of the experience, eagerly participating in workshops and learning from professional theatre companies and industry practitioners.
Her first major professional breakthrough came when she was cast opposite Australian performer Tim Minchin in the television series Upright.
The production schedule made it difficult for her to complete the HSC through the traditional school system, and she left Newtown High in 2018 to continue working professionally.
Alcock later achieved international recognition after playing the younger version of Rhaenyra Targaryen in HBO’s fantasy series House of the Dragon.
She subsequently appeared in the dark comedy series Sirens, alongside Julianne Moore and Kevin Bacon, before being selected to lead the new Supergirl film.
The superhero production also features Eve Ridley and Jason Momoa, further establishing Alcock as one of Australia’s most prominent emerging international actors.
Newtown High School of the Performing Arts opened in 1990 and offers a combination of general academic enrolment and audition-based places for students specialising in creative disciplines.
Kavanagh acknowledged that the public school does not always have access to the same financial resources as some private institutions.
However, he said its greatest strength was its experienced and committed teaching staff, including six specialist drama teachers who help students develop both artistic and academic skills.
The school has built a supportive environment that allows young performers to pursue professional opportunities while continuing their education wherever possible.
The contrasting experiences of Lagaʻaia and Alcock also highlight the challenges young actors face when major career opportunities arrive during their final years of school.
Lagaʻaia was able to complete her examinations while filming overseas, while Alcock moved more quickly into full-time professional acting when her television career began to accelerate.
Dendy Newtown general manager Elliott Collins said it was remarkable to have two former students from the same local school leading blockbuster films at the cinema at the same time.
The connection has become a frequent topic of conversation among cinema employees and customers, particularly because several staff members also attended Newtown High or work within the acting industry.
Collins said their achievements demonstrated that internationally successful performers could emerge from a local public school and neighbourhood community.
Their stories are also expected to inspire younger students considering careers in film, television and theatre.
For Kavanagh, seeing posters for Moana and Supergirl displayed beside each other during a visit to the cinema was an especially memorable moment.
Although the two actresses followed different paths after leaving school, their simultaneous success has brought international attention to Newtown and highlighted the role public education can play in developing world-class creative talent.
