‘Crush’ (Hulu) Interview With Auli’i Cravalho

Sammi Cohen’s teen romantic-comedy film, Crush, premiered on Hulu late last month. It stars Auli’i Cravalho (the voice behind Moana), whom I got to speak with during the afternoon of April 18th. In this article, you can watch my conversation with her; as well as read the transcript of the dialogue between her and me.

Warning: Minor spoiler alert for those who have not yet seen the film.

To Be or Not to Be — AJ Campos

John Daniel: Did you audition for Crush with AJ Campos in mind or were there other roles that you wanted to portray?

Auli’i Cravalho: That’s a great question, actually. I always knew I wanted to audition for AJ. I remember during the audition process they were asking, like, “Do you wanna audition for Paige? ‘Cause that seems [to be] kind of more up your alley”. It’s someone that I would’ve played more similarly in past roles of — she’s an artist. she’s really sweet, she has a first crush, but I knew that I wanted to play AJ because she was someone that I thought was really interesting and mysterious and played things a little closer to her chest. She wasn’t as outgoing as Paige [played by Rowan Blanchard] was, and I found that more interesting. I always knew I wanted to be AJ and thankfully, thankfully I got her.

The Campos Sisters

JD: Can we talk about her dynamic with Isabella [Ferreira]’s Gabriela [Campos], in retrospect, I’m interested in how the overall story or the narrative was told, and that includes your side of the story and Gabriela’s side of the story. Did you share more scenes together or was what we see in the final cut what we get?

AC: I actually haven’t seen the final final [cut], so it’ll be a surprise to me. You’ve probably seen actually more of a finished version than I have. Working with Isabella was so wonderful and I loved the dynamic between AJ and Gabriela because I thought that it was very realistic. I don’t have any siblings, but I imagine that sibling rivalries happen and it must be very difficult. That’s how I portrayed AJ in having this seemingly perfect sister.

Gabriela is one of the co-captains of the track team. There’s this sense that AJ tries so hard to make herself recognizable from her sister and like they carry the same last name, but she’s trying to…she’s a perfectionist. She wants to be the best that she can possibly be and stand out against her already-perfect sister. We have a few scenes together — some good juicy ones as well. I hope people really enjoy our work, and I also can’t wait to see it.

AJ’s Background

JD: I did get to see the film several hours ago and it’s just magnificent. There is prominent LGBTQ representation as a major theme in the film. Aside from that, we do get some mention of your character’s cultural and ethnic background when she brings up her abuela. Can you tell me a little bit more about that?

AC: Sure. Yes. I, myself, am bisexual. That’s how I identify, and I am Puerto Rican, Portuguese, Hawaiian, Chinese, and Irish. I’m a mixed plate, and I’m always very grateful when the characters that I play also kind of dip into my heritage because that feels really honest. It means that I get to show people, maybe, themselves on-screen and using — even like you said — little words like abuela, which is just “grandmother”, but it means something to people.

To be able to play a character who is Latin was really wonderful and Isabella Ferreira, as well as Tyler Alvarez [who plays Dillon] are also Latin themselves. They are very fun to play with and they’re wonderful people and I’m really glad I got to make some friends on this film.

Auli’i Cravalho as an Actor: From Animation to Athleticism

JD: In regards to film and television, you’ve got to work in animation and musical projects. With this role specifically, you play this athletic character, live-action nonetheless. Was this something you’ve always grown up with — [that is] athleticism — or were you aiming for something new?

AC: I’m not the most athletic person, I’m really not. This was something that I decided to kind of try out. I am very interested in playing characters who are aware of their physical strengths; and AJ is very aware of that. She is a runner. She is a perfectionist in that she wants to be the best; so I had to practice running, which is a funny thing to say, like, “You can’t really practice running. You already know how to run”. No, no, not running like that. I really did have to build up my stamina; that took prep before our film began, but it was worth it. I think those track sequences really sold because I was running. I was exhausted at the end of those shooting days — I slept so well.

Falling: Not Just in Love, but Literally Falling

Auli’i also brought up another important hobby of AJ’s: skateboarding.

AC (con’t): I also learned how to skateboard. I took a few skateboarding lessons and I fell a lot; and that also, I think, helped me connect to AJ because… for me, for Auli’i [Cravalho], falling bruised my pride and to play AJ and for her to be an avid skateboarder — which is as to how she was written — she has to be used to falling down and truly getting up and trying again over and over and over again. The metaphor was there and it really snapped and clicked in my brain because I realized it’s hard, nothing worth having. It’s always difficult, you know what I mean? To be the best at a sport or to land a trick, you’ve gotta fall and you’ve gotta puff and puff and really try your best.

JD: Yeah. Practice makes perfect, and I think you really dedicated a lot to the role in terms of acting and then, like you said, with running and skateboarding.

Crush as a Genre, or Genres

JD (con’t): In terms of genre, how would you classify this project?

AC: Ooh. Well, I’d say it’s coming of age rom-com. I think our film is really special because it’s a fresh take on a rom-com. It’s filled with Gen-Z words and Gen-Z humor and young actors and young people of color. When you look at [the high school in Crush], you’re like, “Ah, this is what I think a typical high school — or an inclusive, diverse high school — would look like!”

It’s very refreshing to have worked with many of our actors in front of the screen [who] are queer and out. Also our writing team, Casey Rackham and Kirsten King, they are also queer. And our director, Sammi Cohen also identifies as queer. Truly being on that set and reading the script and speaking the script into existence, everyone who was a part of it was part of that community. It felt really right, and I think that’s why it translates so well to our viewers because representation matters.

JD: Yes, and I do think that mystery also adds to the list of genres in the film, as some people [who] will get into it will know.

Crush, Maybe Rated-R?

JD (con’t): Crush is also your first teen flick, I believe, or rather [is] R-rated due to the language and other content. What was it like entering that territory?

AC: It’s really fun! And I actually didn’t think of [R, or Restricted] as the rating of [the film], but I guess we do swear, huh?

JD: Yeah!

AC, gasping: Oh, my gosh.

JD: Compared to, like, Moana ’cause —

AC: Totally fair.

JD: Yeah.

AC: No, totally fair. I didn’t think of it in that context, but it’s really fun. I got to just enjoy [that] and, again, the humor that Tyler Alvarez brings to our film, he plays Paige’s best friend, as well as Teala Dunn [who plays Stacey Clark]. The way that this cast plays off of one another, it’s impossible not to laugh. While we may swear, like… I dunno if it’s rated R; it’s just funny!

JD: It’s like PG 13, but yeah, because it’s the streaming thing [on Hulu], and streaming kind of plays around with the rules, so I do believe it’s like that.

AC: Oh, so you’re teaching me something. I don’t know any of the rules regarding streaming.

JD: I believe it’s like that because I’ve seen Cl[ose Enough], an animated series and [usually] that’s for children. It’s on HBO Max, but they also do say cuss words, not much of the F word, but I believe so.

Auli’i Cravalho in Horror, Perhaps?

JD (con’t): Can we expect you therefore to dive into horror anytime soon?

AC: Ooh. I really enjoyed the mystery aspect of [Crush] and the fact that you’re not sure who’s who, and there is something to solve by the end of this film. I’d love to get into horror. I think horror is difficult to do well, so I’m waiting for a good horror script to cross my path. For sure, I mean, we all love Jordan Peele. [I would] be happy to work on something of that caliber and with a great script that keeps you guessing until the very end, you know what I mean?

JD: Yes!

Lessons Learned

JD (con’t): What was the biggest thing that you gained while working on this project?

AC: Hmm. Besides gaining more stamina and running, I would say that I gained a lot of hope, actually. When working on this film, I got to dive deeper into myself and what it means to be working [on] one also during the pandemic. That was like a really interesting time, and to connect it back to AJ, she is someone who, through and through, will fight to be the best person that she can be. That’s truly what I believe. I think that she really wants to connect to people, but sometimes just is scared to.

I took away the fact that while it might be difficult to tell a crush that you like them, you have to, you know? ‘Cause that’s what changes it from a crush to a first love. Stepping out of your comfort zone is something that I definitely like resounded with me and that’s something that I left this film with.

JD: Mm-hmm , I am actually reading about that in grad school with the concept of risk, and that’s a really excellent point that you made!

If Actor Spoke to Character

JD (con’t): What is one thing you would say to your character?

AC: What a great question. I haven’t gotten that question before. What would I say to my character?

Auli’i Cravalho took a moment to think of a right answer before stating–

Believe people….believe people when they/ what they say to you, how they act towards you. Believe them on first encounters because…

Another pause.

Because I think that’s what chemistry is. I think you just have to catch a vibe. I’d tell AJ, “What are the vibes? Catch the vibes because I think Paige likes you, dork!” Believe people.

JD: Thank you so much for this opportunity to speak with you and just congratulations on your film. I hope many people get to see this project and it’s just brilliant. It really is, so thank you so much.

AC: I’ll talk to you soon. Bye!

You can see Auli’i Cravalho in Sammi Cohen’s Crush, now streaming via Hulu!

Also, read my non-spoiler review of the film — I have much to say, but there are more good things than there are bad!

Have you seen any of the American High movies? If so, then what are your thoughts on their latest releases so far? Let us know! For more comedy and romance-related news and reviews visit and follow The Cinema Spot on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram!