Awkwafina (real name Nora Lum) is quickly turning into an icon.
The musician and actresshas starred inblockbuster movies likeCrazy Rich AsiansandThe Farewell, winning a prestigious award for the latter.
Among her many accomplishments is the showAwkwafina Is Nora from Queensand her career as a rap artist.
Awkwafina may be a relative newcomer to Hollywood, but she has taken it by storm.
If you aren’t familiar with this talented actress yet, you will be soon.
Awkwafina has disrupted the industry with her relentless authenticity, and her star is on the rise.
Who is Nora Lum?
And who is Awkwafina?
The actress' mother passed away from pulmonary hypertension, and the loss left a huge impact on Awkwafina.
To escape the sadness, Awkwafina developed a sense of humor.
“I needed people to feel joy.
That’s [how] all this began.
I was the class clown all the way.”
In an interview withThe Guardian, Awkwafina said that she “was always the crazy one.”
According toPeople, her grandmother, Powah, moved to Queens to take care of her.
Powah ran a strip mall restaurant.
For years, she felt disconnected from her Korean heritage.
“I really didn’t talk to my Korean family,” she said of growing up multicultural.
“It’s different meeting your older relatives.
This is what Awkwafina was like growing up
Awkwafina was quite the tomboy growing up.
“I climbed trees, was very rambunctious, like complete energy,” she toldMarie Claire.
“Looking back, I would think of myself as a nightmare.
I was messy.”
TheCrazy Rich Asiansstar added that her trademark raspy voice has been one of her defining characteristics ever since childhood.
I never sounded right.”
Awkwafina’s voice has often taken people off guard, and she uses this to her advantage.
And they would be shocked.
Every single person, like, ‘Oh my God, I did not expect that.'"
It’s okay [to not fit in]; I don’t care,'" she toldForbes.
Another reason Awkwafina was inspired by Cho was because she disrupted stereotypes of Asian Americans.
Another of Awkwafina’s role models is Lucy Liu.
In 2018, Awkwafina became only the second Asian American woman to hostSaturday Night Live.
Liu had been the first.
Awkwafina’s early career beginnings
Awkwafina’s roots in the performing arts run deep.
She began playing the trumpet when she was in the fifth grade.
Awkwafina was so good at the instrument that she attended LaGuardia High School, a performing arts high school.
While she excelled in music, she didn’t shine in academics.
“And I remember it resonated with me.
… Where do I go?
That road led me here.”
Her music video “My Vag” was released in 2012 and went viral.
The video also caused an uproar, and Awkwafina was fired from her job at the time.
“So I knew that there was no turning back.
But I had nothing to lose, and that’s when the best things happen.”
Awkwafina threw herself into music and acting.
Her early screen appearances includeGirl CodeandNeighbors 2: Sorority Rising.
“I just thought it was a funny name,” she toldThe Guardian.
“And it was fitting that it had ‘awkward’ in it, because I am awkward.”
The moniker is just as much a stage name as it is an alter ego.
In real life, Awkwafina goes by her given name, Nora.
Awkwafina is just a persona she puts on for the outside world.
“Awkwafina is what I present to the world, and Nora is who I go home to.”
In an interview withNPR, Awkwafina said that her alter ego is a vital part of her career.
“All the neuroses, all the self-consciousness that comes with adulthood, Awkwafina doesn’t have that.”
“When I got the script, I wanted … Ineededto do this movie,” she toldVox.
So I studied really hard.
Six-hour days of just drilling it in, getting the accent right.
It meant that much to me.
I really wanted to work for a character like that."
Awkwafina hired an international student to coach her.
Winning a Golden Globe wasn’t just a personal win, though.
“Just filming this story, being with you, is incredible.”
Awkwafina was surprised to even be nominated for the prestigious award.
Inan Instagram postfollowing her nomination, she wrote, “This week has been so surreal.
Even if she was tempted, living in New York helps her keep her rooted in the real world.
“Being a New Yorker grounds you in every way,” she toldTime Out.
Not everyone is on brand with Awkwafina’s brand of authenticity, though.
“Nobody wants to be ‘the Asian,'” she toldNPR.
“They want to be ‘the artist.’
And at first, I really didn’t want the burden of representing [the Asian-American community].”
“The only thing I can do… is to represent them well,” she said.
I made it a point to tell them that.”
“They remind me of me back then, you know?
But talent and passion don’t discriminate.”
According to Awkwafina, this wasn’t a deliberate move.
