Awkwafina — Biography
Nora Lum, recognized by her stage moniker Awkwafina, is a multifaceted American talent working as an actress, comedian, and rapper. Her ascent to widespread recognition began in 2012 with the viral success of her rap track "My Vag" on YouTube. This initial splash led to the release of her first album, Yellow Ranger, in 2014, and a notable stint on the MTV comedy show Girl Code, which ran from 2014 to 2015.
Awkwafina's career then branched into cinema, where she garnered attention for supporting performances in comedies such as Neighbors 2: Sorority Rising in 2016, followed by acclaimed roles in Ocean's 8 and Crazy Rich Asians, both released in 2018. She also contributed to the ensemble cast of Jumanji: The Next Level in 2019. Her performance as a young woman dealing with grief in the 2019 film The Farewell earned her a Golden Globe Award, marking a significant career milestone.
Since 2020, Awkwafina has taken on a central role behind the scenes as a co-creator, writer, and executive producer for the Comedy Central series Awkwafina Is Nora from Queens. In this show, she also embodies a version of herself, albeit fictionalized. Her presence expanded into the Marvel Cinematic Universe in 2021 with her portrayal of Katy in the superhero blockbuster Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings. Additionally, Awkwafina has lent her voice to a variety of animated features, including Storks (2016), The Angry Birds Movie 2 (2019), Raya and the Last Dragon (2021), The Bad Guys (2022), The Little Mermaid and Migration (both 2023), Kung Fu Panda 4 and IF (both 2024).
Awkwafina's career then branched into cinema, where she garnered attention for supporting performances in comedies such as Neighbors 2: Sorority Rising in 2016, followed by acclaimed roles in Ocean's 8 and Crazy Rich Asians, both released in 2018. She also contributed to the ensemble cast of Jumanji: The Next Level in 2019. Her performance as a young woman dealing with grief in the 2019 film The Farewell earned her a Golden Globe Award, marking a significant career milestone.
Since 2020, Awkwafina has taken on a central role behind the scenes as a co-creator, writer, and executive producer for the Comedy Central series Awkwafina Is Nora from Queens. In this show, she also embodies a version of herself, albeit fictionalized. Her presence expanded into the Marvel Cinematic Universe in 2021 with her portrayal of Katy in the superhero blockbuster Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings. Additionally, Awkwafina has lent her voice to a variety of animated features, including Storks (2016), The Angry Birds Movie 2 (2019), Raya and the Last Dragon (2021), The Bad Guys (2022), The Little Mermaid and Migration (both 2023), Kung Fu Panda 4 and IF (both 2024).
