News | Entertainment
24 Jan 2026 8:53
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
     23 Jan: Oscars 2026: Sinners break record with nominations, Jacob Elordi and Rose Byrne receive nods
     23 Jan: Amanda Seyfried thinks winning an Oscar "isn't necessary" for career success
     23 Jan: Karol G and Feid have reportedly split
     23 Jan: Summer House stars Kyle Cooke and Amanda Batula have split
     23 Jan: Emeli Sande and her fiancee Yoana Karemova have split
     23 Jan: Colleen Hoover is cancer-free
     23 Jan: Nicole Kidman reportedly feels "refreshed and optimistic" as her divorce from Keith Urban is behind her
     Top Stories

    RUGBY RUGBY
    All Blacks prop Tamaiti Williams denies player power was behind the early exit of coach Scott Robertson More...


    BUSINESS BUSINESS
    US copied Iran's Shahed drones — now they are deployed in the Middle East More...



     Today's News

    Politics:
    Whether it's a dip in the pool or a rogue cup of coffee - thousands of Kiwis had to have their passports replaced last year 8:36

    Accident and Emergency:
    And the search for a man who was swept away in his vehicle in Warkworth has been wound down 8:36

    Basketball:
    Mixed emotions within the Breakers after a last second overtime defeat at home to Adelaide in basketball's NBL 8:06

    Cricket:
    Black Caps skipper Mitchell Santner's doing his best to stay upbeat after a seven-wicket thrashing in game two of their T20 cricket series against hosts India 8:06

    Business:
    US copied Iran's Shahed drones — now they are deployed in the Middle East 8:06

    Motoring:
    A strong Police presence is expected in North Canterbury this weekend, as car enthusiasts converge on Rangiora for the Muscle Car Madness Car Show 7:56

    Environment:
    The Whangarei District Council says a slip on Helena Bay Hill could take anywhere between eight and 12 weeks to clear 7:56

    Soccer:
    Back to the drawing board for Phoenix men - after a humbling 4-1 loss away to Newcastle in football's A-League 7:36

    Tennis:
    ASB Classic women's champion Elina Svitolina is through to the fourth round at the Australian Tennis Open 7:16

    Accident and Emergency:
    A scene guard remains in place at an address in Clutha after a person was found dead and another found in a critical condition 4:56


     News Search






    Power Search


    © 2026 New Zealand City Ltd