TRENDING

Netflix's new animated musical adventure Over the Moon captures the power of imagination while embracing the unexpected. Breakout star Cathy Ang plays the role of Fei Fei, a bright young girl who builds a rocket to the moon in search of a legendary goddess. She embarks on an unexpected quest full of whimsical creatures and beautiful music. 

Girls' Life talked to Cathy about starring in Over the Moon, her hopes for young girls watching the film and what it was like to join the flick's star-studded cast. 

GL: Introduce yourself and your new movie!

Cathy: I'm a new actress. I do a lot of theatre, and now voiceover. Over the Moon follows the story of a young Chinese girl who decides to build a rocket to the moon to find the legendary moon goddess, Chang'e. Chang'e is very famous in chinese folklore. It's really a beautiful film about healing. It's very visually stunning and has amazing musical numbers. 

GL: What's your fave scene from the flick? 

Cathy: There's an amazing sequence when Fei Fei is trying to build the rocket, and it's also one of my big songs in the movie, "Rocket to the Moon." Fei Fei fails so many times in that sequence to build the rocket, but she never gives up. She's so courageous and determined which is *amazing*. She's a rocket scientist at 12 years old!

GL: What do you and Fei Fei have in common?

Cathy: I love science and space exploration. I think I can get a little bit of tunnel vision the way that she gets it. And of course, she's a young Chinese girl, and she shares a lot of the same traditions and heritage that my family shared with me when I was growing up. 

CATHY'S CURRENT FAVES

Hobbies: "I've been baking and cooking a lot of different foods. I love sharing food and recipes with people."

Passions: "I love music; I've always been singing. I've spent a lot of time singing and at a piano these days." 

Binge-worthy TV show: "Right now I'm doing a re-watch of Community. I love [show creator] Dan Harmon and the cast is fantastic."

GL: Is there another character in the movie that you love?

Cathy: I love Chang'e. She's voiced by Phillipa Soo, who was Eliza in Hamilton. When you meet Chang'e, she gives us the grandest k-pop concert you could imagine. It's everything about Chang'e: her grandiose personality and the way that she feels so deeply. She's another strong, smart, complicated woman for people to look up to. Both Fei Fei and Chang'e experience loss in different ways, but they're both role models. They're funny, witty and confident in themselves, but they're also both struggling. 

OVER THE MOON - (L-R) "Chin" (voiced by Robert G. Chiu), "Bungee", "Fei Fei" (voiced by Cathy Ang), "Chang'e" (voiced by Phillipa Soo), "Jade Rabbit" and "Lunettes."
Cr. NETFLIX © 2020

GL: How do you hope Over the Moon inspires girls everywhere?

Cathy: I hope they get excited about science. I'm a huge science nerd; I love space exploration. Fei Fei's passion for it is really exciting, and it motivates her to find a solution whenever she comes up with a problem. It makes her curious about the world; it makes her adventurous and excitable. I hope that all kids embrace that part of themselves. If they're that curious about *anything*, follow through on that curiosity. 

GL: What does it feel like to be joining such a talented cast?

Cathy: It's a huge honor for me. All of the cast members—Sandra Oh, John Cho, Margaret Cho, Kimiko Glenn—I've looked up to, and they've inspired me to be able to pursue this career path. There aren't a lot of Asian-Americans who pursue art, and I think they've paved the way for people like me. 

GL: Is there anything else you want to share about Over the Moon? 

Cathy: The team has done such a good job of showcasing the beauty of the Chinese people and landscape; it feels like a story that is meant for exactly right now. And the music! It's going to be stuck in your head *forever*. It ranges from classic Disney to k-pop phenomenon. Visually, it's like an art piece about light and color. You'll be entertained the entire time you're watching it. 

OVER THE MOON - (L-R) "Bungee" and "Fei Fei" (voiced by Cathy Ang).
Cr. NETFLIX © 2020

You can watch Over the Moon on Netflix premiering October 23!

Main Image: OVER THE MOON - (L-R) "Fei Fei" (voiced by Cathy Ang) and "Bungee".
Cr. NETFLIX © 2020

by Katherine Hammer and Allie Lijewski | 10/23/2020