Summary
- Awkwafina has proven her versatility as an actress, excelling in comedic roles like in Ocean's 8 and Jumanji: The Next Level, as well as delivering a powerful dramatic performance in The Farewell.
- Her distinctive charm and unique mannerisms have endeared her to audiences, making her a fan favorite in supporting roles and stealing the show even alongside big-name actors.
- From her breakout in Crazy Rich Asians to her own Comedy Central sitcom, Awkwafina Is Nora from Queens, she has made a mark as a multitalented visionary, showcasing her writing, producing, and acting skills.
Starting out as a rapper and comedian, Awkwafina has risen to prominence in Hollywood with notable roles in some of the best movies and TV shows in recent years. Originally, Awkwafina made a mark in the world of entertainment with her rap album Yellow Ranger and several appearances on the MTV comedy throwback series Girl Code. Ever since her breakout, the multitalented visionary has forged a distinctive path as an actress, becoming a household name, appearing in numerous films and shows, dabbling in hosting gigs, and further developing her music and directing careers.
Known for her emotive vocalization and gritty humor, Awkwafina's distinguishing mannerisms have helped her charm her way into the hearts of audiences everywhere. The film and television roles she's stepped into are often fan favorite supporting characters or central figures who steal the show. Awkwafina's best roles keep her hotly relevant and a front-runner for big comedy projects, but these movies and TV series also demonstrate the breadth of skill that she has while showing just how much she can contribute to Hollywood's next generation of entertainers.
10 Ocean's 8 (2018)
In an attempt to revive the Ocean's franchise, director Gary Ross brought a heavy-hitting roster of some of Hollywood's most iconic women together to lead an all-female team of specialists for Ocean's 8's big heist at the Met Gala. The movie's unforgettable women-led cast features Sandra Bullock, Sarah Paulson, Rihanna, Cate Blanchett, Helena Bonham Carter, Mindy Kaling, and more. Despite acting alongside such big names and having less screen time than the rest, Awkwafina steals the show as Constance, a New York City pickpocket with a knack for both stealing and spouting hilarious one-liners.
9 The Angry Birds Movie 2 (2019)
The voice cast of The Angry Birds Movie 2 includes Saturday Night Live alums and rap superstars. However, Awkwafina was still able to find her groove in the role of the bright green pig Courtney. The role is relatively small, but the actress was able to make big contributions to The Angry Birds Movie 2, for the film's playful premise, again based on the Angry Birds video game, allowed Awkwafina to be imaginative and expressive in her character role.
8 The Little Mermaid (2023)
Disney's live-action remake of The Little Mermaid remained generally true to the animated classic's overall storyline but made several big changes. Awkwafina's Scuttle character faced some of the biggest challenges, including a total revamp in design, a change in gender, and a penchant for rap. The Little Mermaid's updated character faced considerable backlash, yet Awkwafina was able to make Scuttle her own and brought an endearingly comical component to the film.
7 The Dark Crystal: Age of Resistance (2019)
Although The Dark Crystal: Age of Resistance was canceled after just one season, the prequel to the Jim Henson film The Dark Crystal was critically acclaimed, stacked awards and nominations, and harbored a decent following. Many were surprised that the deeply imaginative and wonderfully creative series was axed so soon, especially because it had the endless potential to expand on the world of Thra. Instead, the extraordinary performances that contributed to bringing Henson's world of puppets to life, like that of Awkwafina's powerful Skeksis villain The Collector, was limited to just one incredible season.
6 Jumanji: The Next Level (2019)
Awkwafina joined the cast of Jumanji: The Next Level, the third installment of the franchise, as Ming Fleetfoot. The Jumanji movies had an established main cast by the time Awkwafina came along, but she quickly proved that she could bring her own uniqueness to the multibillion dollar franchise in spite of being new and having to keep up with the antics of a body swap comedy. Ming was the avatar for both Spencer and Edward Gilpin in the Jumanji game, but Awkwafina was able to expertly juggle the identity of the avatar while nailing the idiosyncrasies of Alex Wolff's Spencer and Danny DeVito's Edward.
5 Shang-Chi And The Legend Of The Ten Rings (2021)
In 2021, Awkwafina performed in the Marvel blockbuster Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings, an origin story film set on introducing the titular hero within the MCU. Appearing in a Marvel movie is almost always a marker for making it big in Hollywood, but ironically Awkwafina played Shang-Chi's humble and down-to-earth friend, Katy. Her execution as the hero's best friend was relatable and personable, and it showed that even under the pressure of the MCU, Awkwafina could provide a well-rounded performance that contributed to Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings' overall appeal.
4 Crazy Rich Asians (2018)
Awkwafina was a breakout star in Crazy Rich Asians playing the best friend of Rachel Chu (Constance Wu). Awkwafina's portrayal of Peik Lin Goh was different from the character as written in the Crazy Rich Asians novel, but it was the actress's eccentricity that attracted director John M. Chu to choose her for the part.
In an interview with Rolling Stone, Chu expressed why Awkwafina was perfect for the role: "We had to do our due diligence and see everybody, but ultimately we knew she would hit it out of the park. With Awkwafina...I didn't want to lay anything on top of her spirit. She's a truth-teller. I wanted her to be the funniest, harshest she could be." It worked, for Awkwafina was the Crazy Rich Asian friend everybody wished they had.
3 Awkwafina Is Nora From Queens (2020-Present)
Eventually, Awkwafina was able to work on big projects that were uniquely her own. In 2020, she began writing, producing, and starring in the Comedy Central sitcom Awkwafina Is Nora from Queens. The series boasts a 73% audience score on Rotten Tomatoes and is admired for its unique blend of brash comedy, relatable narratives, a delightful cast of characters, and hilarious Nora from Queens guest appearances.
2 The Farewell (2019)
Lulu Wang's The Farewell is the most critically acclaimed movie on Awkwafina's catalog of work. With a towering 97% critic score on Rotten Tomatoes, The Farewell was near-universally praised for its intricate portrait of family dynamics and Chinese American culture. Awkwafina's seering performance as Billi, a young woman coming to terms with saying goodbye to her dying grandmother, is effortlessly perfect and shows beyond a doubt that the comedian could excel in dramatic roles. In fact, Awkwafina's flawless The Farewell performance won her a Golden Globe Award for Best Actress (Musical or Comedy), making her the first ever Asian-American woman to be bestowed with the honor.
1 Raya And The Last Dragon
Raya and the Last Dragon is a multi-nominated and award-winning animated feature released by Disney. The film was inspired by traditional Southeast Asian cultures and is led by the powerful warrior princess Raya. Yet, in light of all that, it was the water dragon Sisu that attracted the most attention. Awkwafina was sublime in her voice role as the legendary dragon, and Sisu has become one of Awkwafina's most beloved and recognizable roles.