News | Entertainment
4 Dec 2025 7:34
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."

    © 2025 Bang Showbiz, NZCity

     Other Entertainment News
     03 Dec: Macaulay Culkin thinks his father deserves to "die alone"
     03 Dec: Benedict Cumberbatch needed surgery following a surfing injury
     03 Dec: Niecy Nash-Betts has revealed the All's Fair cast have a NSFW group chat without Ryan Murphy
     03 Dec: Oh. What. Fun. is a light, frivolous Christmas comedy – about motherhood and female rage
     03 Dec: Prince William's children "love" Fawlty Towers
     03 Dec: Millie Bobby Brown says she and David Harbour value their friendship "more than anything"
     03 Dec: Helena Bonham Carter says Tim Burton was sketching while she was "literally giving birth"
     Top Stories

    RUGBY RUGBY
    Outgoing Wallabies coach Joe Schmidt reckons both Australia and the All Blacks will be comfortable with being drawn against each other in 2027 World Cup pool play More...


    BUSINESS BUSINESS
    Air New Zealand customers may face delays on Monday, with some cabin crew members still prepared to strike More...



     Today's News

    Rugby:
    Outgoing Wallabies coach Joe Schmidt reckons both Australia and the All Blacks will be comfortable with being drawn against each other in 2027 World Cup pool play 7:27

    Rugby League:
    Kiwi Lewis Clareburt believes Aussie know-how will give him a better chance at Olympic success in 2028 7:17

    Environment:
    Six people arrested on suspicion of deactivating fire alarms at Hong Kong fire apartment complex 7:07

    Business:
    Air New Zealand customers may face delays on Monday, with some cabin crew members still prepared to strike 5:47

    Law and Order:
    A teenager is expected to appear in Auckland Youth Court today - the second person accused of murdering US student Kyle Whorrall in April 4:57

    Rugby:
    The All Blacks and Wallabies have been drawn in the same pool for the 2027 Rugby World Cup, but what lurks beyond is more fascinating 4:37

    Christchurch:
    State Highway 1 near Waimate in South Canterbury has reopened after a crash this afternoon 21:57

    Law and Order:
    SIR BRIAN ROCHE 21:17

    Business:
    MIKE HOSKING BREAKFAST THURSDAY 4TH DECEMBER 21:17

    International:
    Is it better to sleep naked or wear pyjamas in summer? 21:07


     News Search






    Power Search


    © 2025 New Zealand City Ltd