'Awkwafina Is Nora From Queens': All the similarities Awkwafina shares with her onscreen character Nora
Awkwafina has begun the decade with a bang. After a well-deserved Golden Globe win for 'The Farewell', the singer-actress has her own show airing on Comedy Central titled 'Awkwafina Is Nora From Queens'.
The show focusses on a 20-something wanderer trying to figure out the messy life of adulthood and is loosely based on the life of Awkwafina, in her pre-stardom days. In the first episode, we were introduced to Nora Lumm (that's her real name), who lives with her wild and cussing granny and her father.
Nora Lumm is caught between odd jobs, including being an unsuccessful Uber driver. In the second episode, Nora's grandmother takes her to Atlantic City, where she watches Korean soap operas and Nora runs into an old schoolmate.
So, how much of the show is actually true?
Awkwafina did grow up with her grandmother and parents
Just like her character on the show, Awkwafina did grow up in a multi-generational home with her grandmother and parents. However, in real life, she moved into her own place after college and at the age of 27, she was already starring in MTV's 'Girl Code'.
She is half-Korean and Chinese
In the show, it is revealed that Awkwafina is half-Korean and Chinese. In real life, she was born to a Chinese American father and a Korean mother.
She is very close to her grandmother
Awkwafina's mother died when she was rather young. Since then, Awkwafina has been very close to her grandmother, just like in the show. In several interviews, the actress has spoken very affectionately about her.
In fact, her grandmother was the first she called after her Golden Globe win. In 2016, her grandmother had also starred in a food review video with her.
Awkwafina did take up odd jobs
Awkwafina confirmed to USA Today that events in the show mirrored her own life quite closely. "The biggest change was how much more grounded in reality and my experiences the show became," she said.
"I really did focus groups for money; I really did work in a shady real estate agency. I felt that the best way to tell a story without making it seem like it’s trying too hard, especially with comedy, was to just tell it the way it happened."
'Awkwafina Is Nora From Queens' airs on Comedy Central, on Wednesdays at 10.30 pm.
