Anna Moana Rosa Pozzi was born on April 27, 1961 in Genoa, Italy into a family that moved frequently because of her father’s work as a nuclear engineer. Her mother was a homemaker, and she had a younger sister. As a child she lived in countries like Canada and Brazil before returning to Italy in her early teens, where she completed her schooling. From a young age she showed a strong personality, and her given name “Moana” — a Polynesian word meaning “the ocean” — reflected her family’s affection for travel and the wider world. Her early upbringing in a conservative, educated household gave her experiences that often contrasted with her later public image.
Before entering adult entertainment, Moana was exposed to classical arts; she studied at a conservatory and had a background in music and performance. In 1979, shortly before turning 18, she gave birth to her only child, a son named Simone. For years her son was raised by her parents and believed Moana was his older sister, a personal story she kept private for much of her life.
At 19, Moana chose to stay in Rome, where she began working as a model and took acting classes. Her striking presence and confident personality helped her find work in television commercials and small roles in Italian cinema. In 1981 she appeared in her first adult film under the name Linda Heveret, a move that sparked controversy because she was at the time associated with a children’s television show. The ensuing scandal brought her a degree of public attention she had not previously had.
Despite resistance from some sectors of the media, Moana’s visibility grew. She balanced work in conventional entertainment with adult performances, challenging social norms about sexuality and celebrity. Her early steps into adult films were controversial but also laid the groundwork for her later identity as a pioneer in the industry.