Doua Moua (RPA: Duas Muas, Pahawh: ; 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.
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. Six months after his birth, his family entered Minnesota as refugees, and he was raised in the city of St. Paul. While in middle school, Doua joined the choir and theater classes at a teacher's suggestion; he also participated in community theater. He was graduated from the International School of Minnesota, in Eden Prairie.Yuen, Laura. "Hmong get a mixed debut in new Eastwood film." Minnesota Public Radio. December 18, 2008. Retrieved on March 18, 2012.
Amongst Doua Moua's cousins are former state senator Mee Moua and dancer-actor Aidan Prince.
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. Moua worked in an Italian restaurant to finance his career. 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. The film's casting was considered "a catalyst for more Hmong to get into filmmaking". 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." Moua added that many first generation Hmong are affected by gangs and drift into gangs due to a lack of father figures.
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. The film, The Harvest, was written by Doua and was to be directed by Dan Ireland starring Doua alongside Russell Wong and Ellen Wong. Ireland has since died with Li Lu reportedly directing. The movie is still in development.
Doua was cast in the live action Disney adaptation of Mulan as Po. 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."
Filmography + Television rolesYearTitleRoleNotes2007The Naked Brothers BandChinese ThugUncredited; Episode: "Alex's Clothing Line"2008The CaptiveHmong GuardTV movie2009Michael & Michael Have IssuesHakitoriUncredited; 1 episode2010Blue BloodsBig Eyes2 episodes2015Chinese FoodYoung ParkTV Pilot2015One Bad ChoiceKOEpisode: "Meili Cady"2016Criminal Minds: Beyond BordersUnsubEpisode: "The Harmful One"2017Marvel's Iron FistWarrior Guard #1Episode: "The Blessing of Many Fractures"2017VeepQuestionerEpisode: "Groundbreaking"
+ Film rolesYearTitleRoleNotes2004PalsMingShort film2004Stealing SummerForeign Guy2005FactotumSpectatorUncredited2005Don't WhistleTouShort film2007PBI: Paranormal Bureau of InvestigationCocoShort film2008UncertaintyInternet Cafe Clerk2008Gran TorinoSpider2008ResolveLieutenantShort film2009Karma CallingChinese Restaurant Employee2009LaloChinese Food Delivery PersonUncredited; Short film2009Super SundayAlexShort film2009PrisonersDanny KimShort film2009Ex SchemesAaronShort film2009Across Dot Ave.Coffee Shop Employee2010The Last AirbenderEarthbender GuardUncredited2010King's ManHong2011Dirty MovieWing Thai2011I Am JuliaNoahShort film2011hItec!Choggys WestShort film2012GreencastleNu Vang2012Sparrow LaneBobby MillerShort film2014The City at NightTsheejShort film2014Foodie FightJohnShort film2015TracersSkinny Jeans2015MemoriaTakeshi Motoki2016SmartassDesk Clerk2016One ShotScott LawlessShort film2018TournamentLung2019Itsy BitsyWounded Man2020Reality Queen!Klarc Kim2020MulanPo
+ Filmmaking creditsYearTitleDirectorProducerWriterOther2014I Die, I Dim, I Shine2016Static2016BedeviledSpecial thanks2017Dining Table2017Midnight Clear
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