Awkwafina On Crazy Rich Asians Slot Machine, Working With John Cena & New Movie Jackpot!

Actress and Comedian Awkwafina visited the set of Jimmy Kimmel Live a few days ago with Guest Host Jeff Goldblum about her name, a possible nickname for Jeff, voicing Ms. Tarantula from The Bad Guys, her experience working with Michelle Yeoh and Director Jon M. Chu, seeing a Crazy Rich Asians slot machine in Vegas, not getting recognized by tourists on a Hollywood tour bus, a fly showing up on Jeff’s desk, and working with John Cena and Paul Feig on her new movie Jackpot!

Awkwafina’s real name is Nora Lum. She chose the stage name “Awkwafina” as a play on words, blending “awkward” and “Aquafina” to reflect her quirky and humorous personality. Before she became a well-known actress, Awkwafina started as a rapper. She gained attention with her viral music video “My Vag” in 2012, which showcased her comedic rap style.

Besides acting and rapping, Awkwafina is also a writer. She published a book titled *”Awkwafina’s NYC,”* which is a guide to her hometown of New York City, filled with humor and personal anecdotes. Awkwafina made history by becoming the first Asian-American woman to win a Golden Globe Award for Best Actress in a Motion Picture – Musical or Comedy, for her role in *”The Farewell”* (2019).

She studied at LaGuardia High School of Music & Art and Performing Arts in New York, which is known for producing many famous artists. She later attended SUNY Albany, where she majored in journalism and women’s studies. Awkwafina has lent her voice to several animated characters, including the dragon Sisu in Disney’s *”Raya and the Last Dragon”* (2021) and Ms. Tarantula in *”The Bad Guys”* (2022).

Awkwafina created and starred in her own semi-autobiographical comedy series, *”Awkwafina Is Nora from Queens,”* which premiered on Comedy Central in 2020. The show is inspired by her experiences growing up in Queens, New York. Awkwafina is of Chinese and Korean descent. Her father is Chinese-American, and her mother, who passed away when Awkwafina was four, was a Korean immigrant.

Awkwafina is known for her humorous and candid presence on social media, where she often shares insights into her life, work, and thoughts on various topics.

She has a soft spot for animals and has posted pictures of her pets on social media. Her love for animals is evident in her playful interactions with them both online and in interviews. See more photos and a video clip…