News | Entertainment
13 Feb 2026 13:38
NZCity News
NZCity CalculatorReturn to NZCity

  • Start Page
  • Personalise
  • Sport
  • Weather
  • Finance
  • Shopping
  • Jobs
  • Horoscopes
  • Lotto Results
  • Photo Gallery
  • Site Gallery
  • TVNow
  • Dating
  • SearchNZ
  • NZSearch
  • Crime.co.nz
  • RugbyLeague
  • Make Home
  • About NZCity
  • Contact NZCity
  • Your Privacy
  • Advertising
  • Login
  • Join for Free

  •   Home > News > Entertainment

    Awkwafina has no plans to drop her stage name

    The 'Crazy Rich Asians' star - whose real name is Nora Lum - revealed her moniker was created as a child, and she feels immense pride when she sees the alias "on a chair back or on a call sheet"


    Asked if she could ditch Awkwafina for her own name, she told the New York Times: "I don't see it right now. That's not to say that it's not a possibility.

    "I created Awkwafina when I was a kid. What she represents to me is more than a persona -- in the very beginning, I did see her as the confident one, the side that comes out that gives Nora the panic attacks.

    "But as I've grown older I've come to really be grateful for that name and what I've seen it written on. To see her name on a chair back or on a call sheet, that means a lot to me. I don't think that I could shed her right now."

    The 31-year-old star is set to release her own sitcom 'Awkwafina Is Nora From Queens' on Netflix, and she opened up about her "memories" of growing up in the New York City borough.

    She added: "My memories of Queens are scattered. There's this family history that I kind of know only from stories, about when my dad was growing up in Whitestone and my great-grandpa owned a Chinese restaurant on Northern Boulevard.

    "My dad still lives in the same building I grew up in. My old neighbours find my dad and they're like, 'I can't believe she's that same little girl.'

    "He definitely hams it up with everyone. He's having a fun time with it."

    Meanwhile, the 'Farewell' actress previously admitted she sometimes calls herself Michelle Pfeiffer to confuse people in Starbucks when they're writing her name on a cup.

    She said: "When I was 15 or 16, I thought the name 'Awkwafina' was great, hilarious. I never thought anyone would ever call me that. Cut to now, where everyone calls me that. So that's good.

    "[In Starbucks] I like putting 'Michelle Pfeiffer'. All 'F's in the 'Pfeiffer,' throws them off a little bit."

    © 2026 Bang Showbiz, NZCity

     Other Entertainment News
     13 Feb: Jake Paul was reduced to tears as his fiancée Jutta Leerdam broke a world record at the Winter Olympics, which he described as "one of the most important sporting moments ever"
     13 Feb: Lindsey Vonn has "no regrets" after sustaining a broken leg in her Winter Olympics crash
     13 Feb: Child star Blake Garrett has died, aged 33
     13 Feb: Cindy Crawford was treated like she was "dumb" when she dropped out of college to become a model
     13 Feb: Robert Irwin has admitted "anything could happen" amid rumours he could join The Bachelor
     13 Feb: Bad Bunny has reportedly broken the record for the most watched Super Bowl halftime show in history
     13 Feb: Cardi B and Stefon Diggs have sparked split speculation after unfollowing one another on Instagram
     Top Stories

    RUGBY RUGBY
    The Blues believe they've unearthed a gem in Torian Barnes ahead of his Super Rugby debut on Saturday More...


    BUSINESS BUSINESS
    Last year reached a record migration low More...



     Today's News

    Business:
    Last year reached a record migration low 13:27

    Entertainment:
    Jake Paul was reduced to tears as his fiancée Jutta Leerdam broke a world record at the Winter Olympics, which he described as "one of the most important sporting moments ever" 13:21

    National:
    Vinegar Valentines: how cruel Victorians sent insulting cards to their unwanted suitors 13:07

    Skiing:
    Winter Olympics 2026: Australian snowboard cross riders struggle after Cam Bolton's injury 13:07

    Business:
    Hamilton City Council's putting 1.7-million dollars into future zoo expansion 13:07

    Entertainment:
    Lindsey Vonn has "no regrets" after sustaining a broken leg in her Winter Olympics crash 12:51

    Netball:
    The Central Pulse have named co-captains for the upcoming ANZ Premiership netball season 12:27

    Entertainment:
    Child star Blake Garrett has died, aged 33 12:21

    Living & Travel:
    The fastest SailGP team on water is off the market ahead of this weekend's regatta in Auckland 12:07

    Entertainment:
    Cindy Crawford was treated like she was "dumb" when she dropped out of college to become a model 11:51


     News Search






    Power Search


    © 2026 New Zealand City Ltd