News | Entertainment
7 Feb 2026 22:37
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
     07 Feb: Khloe Kardashian has "absolutely no fear about death"
     07 Feb: Dove Cameron was "celibate" before meeting her fiance
     07 Feb: Chris Pratt treats every day like Valentine's Day
     07 Feb: Jesse Eisenberg is a "daily patron" of the New York Public Library
     07 Feb: Jennifer Garner once bit a portion of a stunt performer's ear off
     07 Feb: Nick Jonas' daughter needed to be resuscitated shortly after she was born
     07 Feb: Catherine, Princess of Wales has shared a heartfelt message to commemorate World Cancer Day (04.02.26)
     Top Stories

    RUGBY RUGBY
    The Black Ferns Sevens have kicked off their Perth World Series campaign with a 34-12 victory over Japan in pool play More...


    BUSINESS BUSINESS
    Wastewater remediation works are running smoothly in Wellington's Moa Point, following Wednesday's sewerage leak More...



     Today's News

    Soccer:
    Australian defender Jake Girdwood-Reich is refusing to dwell on Auckland FC's recent form slump 21:57

    Living & Travel:
    A Lotto player from Invercargill who bought their ticket on MyLotto has won Division One's million dollars in tonight's draw 21:17

    International:
    Latest Epstein files documents reveal links to multiple monarchies 21:07

    Skiing:
    What you need to know about skiing in Japan and how to keep yourself safe on the slopes 20:57

    Entertainment:
    Khloe Kardashian has "absolutely no fear about death" 20:01

    Entertainment:
    Dove Cameron was "celibate" before meeting her fiance 19:31

    International:
    Thailand election stakes are high as progressives mount new challenge against establishment 19:27

    Law and Order:
    Nancy Guthrie may have been abducted in a 41-minute window, authorities say 19:07

    Entertainment:
    Chris Pratt treats every day like Valentine's Day 19:01

    Rugby:
    The Black Ferns Sevens have kicked off their Perth World Series campaign with a 34-12 victory over Japan in pool play 18:57


     News Search






    Power Search


    © 2026 New Zealand City Ltd