Awkwafina
Biography
Nora Lum, born June 2, 1988, is an American actress, comedian and rapper who works under the stage name Awkwafina. She first gained attention in 2012 when her rap song “My Vag” went viral on YouTube, and she followed with the debut album Yellow Ranger in 2014. That same year she began appearing on the MTV comedy series Girl Code, remaining through 2015. Awkwafina moved into film with supporting roles in Neighbors 2: Sorority Rising (2016), Ocean’s 8 and Crazy Rich Asians (both 2018), and Jumanji: The Next Level (2019). Her performance as a grieving young woman in The Farewell (2019) earned her a Golden Globe Award. Since 2020 she has served as co‑creator, writer and executive producer of the comedy series Comedy C.
Career overview
Nora Lum, born June 2 1988 in Stony Brook, New York, is professionally known as Awkwafina. She first gained public attention in 2012 when her rap song “My Vag” went viral on YouTube, establishing her reputation as a comedian and rapper with a distinctive, raspy delivery. Building on that momentum, she released her debut album Yellow Ranger in 2014 and became a regular presence on the MTV comedy series Girl Code, appearing in its 2014–2015 run.
Awkwafina transitioned to feature films with a series of supporting roles that broadened her profile. She appeared in the comedy Neighbors 2: Sorority Rising in 2016, followed by parts in the ensemble caper Ocean’s 8 and the romantic comedy Crazy Rich Asians, both released in 2018. Her film work continued with a supporting turn in Jumanji: The Next Level in 2019. That same year she earned a Golden Globe Award for her leading performance as a grieving young woman in the drama The Farewell, marking a critical breakthrough in her acting career.
Since 2020, Awkwafina has expanded her creative involvement behind the camera, serving as co‑creator, writer, and executive producer of the comedy series Comedy C. Her career thus spans music, television, and film, with notable achievements as both a performer and a content creator.
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Career timeline
Full filmography
- Descendants: Wicked Wonderland (2026) as Chessy the Cat (voice)
- Wildwood (2026) as (voice)
- Jumanji: Open World (2026) as Ming
- The Man with the Bag (2026)
- The Bad Guys 2 (2025) as Tarantula (voice)
- Marvel Zombies (2025) as Katy Chen (voice)
- No Taste Like Home with Antoni Porowski (2025) as Self
- Lisa Lu Plays Herself (2025) as Self
- The Bad Guys: Little Lies and Alibis (2025) as Tarantula (voice)
- Kung Fu Panda 4 (2024) as Zhen (voice)
- IF (2024) as Bubble (voice)
- Jackpot! (2024) as Katie Kim
- Fly Hard (2024) as Chump (voice)
- A Real Bug's Life (2024) as Self - Narrator (voice)
- Dueling Dumplings (2024) as Zhen (voice)
- Poker Face (2023) as Maddy Saint Marie
- The Little Mermaid (2023) as Scuttle (voice)
- Migration (2023) as Chump (voice)
- Once Upon a Studio (2023) as Sisu (voice)
- Renfield (2023) as Rebecca
- Quiz Lady (2023) as Anne Yum
- Quiz Lady (2023) Producer
- The Bad Guys (2022) as Tarantula (voice)
- The Boys Presents: Diabolical (2022) as Sky / Areola / Turd (voice)
- The Boys Presents: Diabolical (2022) Writer
- Top Chef VIP (2022) as Self
- Maraschino Ruby (2022) as Tarantula (voice)
- Devise the Plan: Making 'The Bad Guys' (2022) as Self
- Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings (2021) as Katy
- Raya and the Last Dragon (2021) as Sisu (voice)
- Marvel Studios Assembled (2021) as Self
- Swan Song (2021) as Kate
- Breaking News in Yuba County (2021) as Mina
- The Drew Barrymore Show (2020) as Self
- The SpongeBob Movie: Sponge on the Run (2020) as Otto (voice)
- Awkwafina Is Nora from Queens (2020) as Nora Lin
- Awkwafina Is Nora from Queens (2020) Executive Producer
- Awkwafina Is Nora from Queens (2020) Writer
- Awkwafina Is Nora from Queens (2020) Director
- Awkwafina Is Nora from Queens (2020) Creator
- One World: Together at Home (2020) as Self
- Call Your Mother (2020)
- The Kelly Clarkson Show (2019) as Self
- The Angry Birds Movie 2 (2019) as Courtney (voice)
- Jumanji: The Next Level (2019) as Ming
- A Little Late with Lilly Singh (2019) as Self
- The Dark Crystal: Age of Resistance (2019) as skekLach (The Collector) (voice)
- Weird City (2019) as Charlotta
- The Farewell (2019) as Billi
- Paradise Hills (2019) as Yu
- Between Two Ferns: The Movie (2019) as Awkwafina
- Ocean's Eight (2018) as Constance
- Crazy Rich Asians (2018) as Peik Lin Goh
- Dude (2018) as Rebecca Voller
- Ocean's Team 3.0 (2018) as Self
- Reimagining The Met Gala (2018) as Self
- A Legendary Christmas with John & Chrissy (2018) as Self
- Future Man (2017) as Woman at Video Game Store
- Animals. (2016) as Annie (voice)
- Storks (2016) as Quail (voice)
- Neighbors 2: Sorority Rising (2016) as Christine
- Mary + Jane (2016) as Gina
- Bad Rap (2016) as Self
- The Late Show with Stephen Colbert (2015) as Self - Guest
- Hot Ones (2015) as Self
- IMDb on the Scene (2015) as Self
- Late Night with Seth Meyers (2014) as Self
- Variety Studio: Actors on Actors (2014) as Self
- Off Camera with Sam Jones (2014) as Self
- Black Mirror (2011) as Kimmy
- Regular Show (2010) as Apple / Waitress #1 (voice)
- Watch What Happens Live with Andy Cohen (2009) as Self - Guest
- Made in Hollywood (2005) as Self
- Jimmy Kimmel Live! (2003) as Self - Guest
- Jimmy Kimmel Live! (2003) as Self - Guest
- The Ellen DeGeneres Show (2003) as Self
- Big Brother (2000) as Self - Guest
- The Daily Show (1996) as Self
- MTV Movie & TV Awards (1992) as Self - Presenter
- The Simpsons (1989) as Carmen (voice)
- LIVE with Kelly and Mark (1988) as Self - Guest
- MTV Video Music Awards (1984) as Self - Preshow Host
- Saturday Night Live (1975) as Self - Host
- Golden Globe Awards (1944) as Self - Presenter
- Kaet Might Die as Kaet
- The Bad Guys 3 as Tarantula (voice)
- Kung Fu Panda 5 as Zhen (voice)
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- The Baccarat Machine as Cheung Yin 'Kelly' Sun
- The Unlikely Cook with Awkwafina as Self
- The Unlikely Cook with Awkwafina Executive Producer