- [Interviewer] Hey Awkwafina.
- Hey, have a seat.
- [Interviewer] Thank you so much, I'm so glad to be here.
- Welcome to K-Town!
- [Interviewer] And I'm thrilled to ask you 73 questions.
- Me too. I'm very excited.
I'm actually running around since I have some meetings
right now, but I think we're gonna make it work.
- [Interviewer] We're gonna make it work.
But before we do, how should I address you?
You wanna go by Nora or Awkwafina for this?
- That depends on if we're married or not.
- [Interviewer] So how did you
come to land on Awkwafina, anyway?
- When I was 15 or 16 I thought that
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.
- [Interviewer] Did any other names make the list?
- Kimchi g gay, you know, getting Jiggay with it.
I wanted to make Jiggay jokes.
- [Interviewer] Yeah, it doesn't roll off the tongue.
- [Server] Can I clear some room for you?
- Yes, please thank you, Chris.
- I got you, no. - All right.
- [Interviewer] What's the name
that you give on your Starbucks orders?
- I like putting Michelle Pfeiffer,
all F's in the Pfeiffer, throws them off a little bit.
- [Interviewer] What's the biggest difference
between Nora and Awkwafina?
- One has acid reflux. The other one yells a lot.
- [Interviewer] What's the biggest similarity?
- We both love soup.
I love New England clam chowder.
- [Interviewer] Hmm.
What's your favorite borough in New York City?
- I gotta say Queens.
I gotta say Queens.
- [Interviewer] What's the most underrated thing in Queens?
- The food, and the diversity of the food.
And the availability of the food.
- [Interviewer] And what would you say
is the best kept secret in New York City?
- I couldn't tell ya.
- [Interviewer] Cheat answer.
Let's get outta here.
- I'm just gonna go check out if you wanna come with.
- [Interviewer] Let's do it.
So as a born and bred New Yorker,
what's your opinion of Los Angeles?
- I like LA, it's the same weather every day,
I get to drive everywhere, it's great.
- [Interviewer] And what's the best part of LA?
- The best part is being near all kinds of bodies of water.
We got pools, we got oceans, we got reservoirs,
we got a little lake.
- [Interviewer] Look at that,
you got your swimming pool right there.
What's the worst part about Los Angeles?
- I'd say the worst thing about
being in LA is how big it is.
I once tried to walk from Koreatown to Santa Monica,
didn't work out, it's a long day's journey into night.
- [Interviewer] After New York, where would you say
you feel most at home?
- Probably in an abandoned school bus,
hurling insults at trees.
- [Interviewer] Okay.
What's always found in your carry on?
- I love a good facial spritz.
I love spritzing my face when it needs it.
- [Interviewer] Who's your dream travel partner?
- I'd say Jon Snow.
I think he'd be a little reluctant at first
and then he'd be really helpful along the journey.
- [Interviewer] If you had to write another city guidebook
what city would it be for?
- I love Seattle.
I love to explore Seattle.
- [Interviewer] Coffee or tea?
- Matcha.
- [Interviewer] Early bird or night owl?
- I'm a night owl that goes to bed early
and wakes up early, so I guess an early bird.
- [Interviewer] And what's a podcast
you recommend for everyone?
- Criminal, yeah, shout out Phoebe.
It's a great podcast.
- [Interviewer] If you could make a cameo
in any film, TV show, or podcast what would it be?
- What was that show where like
the cousin comes from another country
and he starts all kinds of trouble.
Balcony--
- [Interviewer] Balki!
- Balki! - "Perfect Strangers!"
- "Perfect Strangers," that one.
- [Interviewer] - Love that show, love it. Ok,
so paint me a picture- what does one day
in Awkwafina's life look like?
- One day. - Just a typical day.
- I wake up, probably wearing the same clothes
that I've been wearing.
And then I spend an hour or two crying or laughing.
And then I put on some shoes and get out that door.
- [Interviewer] And how does your day usually end?
- It usually ends with me on Sepulveda
yelling at birds.
Can I have the check, Jamal? Thank you.
- [Interviewer] If you're wearing a mood ring
what color would it be?
- Probably the green brown that all mood rings are.
- [Interviewer] What does that mean?
- It means that mood rings don't work.
Thank you.
- [Interviewer] So what are you most excited about
at this current moment in life, right now?
- I was gonna go to Jimmy Johns,
I love the Big Italian, so I'm excited about that.
But I'm excited to be here, right now, with you.
- [Interviewer] What are you putting off at this moment?
- Probably going to Jimmy Johns, getting that Big Italian.
- [Interviewer] If you could listen to one instrument
for the rest of your life what would it be?
- I'd say a flugelhorn.
- [Interviewer] You play flugelhorn?
- No, I don't have the lungs for it.
- [Interviewer] Who always makes it onto your playlists?
- Jamiroquai.
He always wiggles his way in there.
- [Interviewer] If you could choose someone
to cover one of your songs, who would it be?
- The B-52s, I love them.
- [Interviewer] Oh, that's a good one.
I love The B-52s.
- I just, I gotta go up to my room.
Are we good on time?
- [Interviewer] We're totally fine,
we have like another 10 minutes.
Don't worry about it. - Okay, awesome.
- [Interviewer] So what's a rumor you think
would be funny to start about yourself?
- That Awkwafina is the best and she has no flaws.
- [Interviewer] What's the last emoji
that you remember using?
- I like using the ambulance or the rocket
that is aggressively blasting off.
- [Interviewer] And would you find yourself
using Twitter or Instagram more?
- I love, I'm more active on Instagram.
But I like to get the tea and the news from Twitter.
Thank you, love you Chris.
- [Interviewer] Now I remember watching your music videos
when they first came out, how did it feel
getting attention for the first time?
- It was like a panic attack,
reliving it over and over again.
But also like very exciting.
- [Interviewer] That must've been exciting,
you were getting a ton of buzz.
Were you anxious or hesitant starting out,
putting yourself up on the internet like that?
- There are several voices in my head.
One was like, oh my god, are you really gonna do this?
And the other one was like, don't do it.
And the third one was like, I mean just do it.
And so I listened, and I did it, and here we are.
- [Interviewer] Do you ever read the comments on YouTube?
- I once met an old wise man under a tree,
the tree had pickles, and he said, never read the comments.
So I listened.
- That's pretty specific. - Yes.
- [Interviewer] So Awkwafina, you're a rapper,
an actress, internet personality, comedian,
an author, a host, what do you most identify with?
- Probably DJ photographer.
- [Interviewer] What or who inspires most of your lyrics?
- The stars at night, the sound of waves
softly crashing onto one another, your voice.
- [Interviewer] Ah, thank you.
So what comes first, the beat or the lyrics?
- I gotta say the beat, the beat.
It all starts with the beat.
- [Interviewer] Is is easier for you to write raps or jokes?
- I would say jokes, knock knock jokes.
- [Interviewer] What was the most memorable job
that you had while getting your comedy up and running?
- That would be the vegan bodega.
Taught me a lot about customer service,
a lot about retail.
- There ya go. - Wanna come in?
- [Interviewer] Yeah, let's do it.
- All right.
- [Interviewer] And what was your favorite job?
- My favorite was probably working
at the video store when I was 16 years old.
- [Interviewer] What film did you rent the most from there?
- "Beaches." - "Beaches."
Bette Midler.
- Deep cut. - Sad movie.
By the way, beautiful view.
- It is, check it out.
- Look at that. - It's gorgeous.
- [Interviewer] Los Angeles.
So Awkwafina, when did you realize
you could first make people laugh?
- I developed humor as a defense mechanism
when I was like four, actually after the passing of my mom.
I wanted to be an emblem of joy,
and not an emblem of sorrow.
- [Interviewer] That's touching.
Was there a particular moment you realized
you wanted to be a comedian?
- When I was about five or six,
I had this crowd rolling, right.
And I remember going home at night, sitting awake,
as a child, and wondering if like
the laughs were real or if they just felt bad.
- You were so young. - Yeah.
- [Interviewer] But there's also so much
heart in your "SNL" monologue.
- Thank you.
- [Interviewer] What did that experience feel like?
It must've been surreal.
- It was amazing to be able to deliver
a monologue that, you know, took more of a serious turn.
I think it's one thing to imagine being on that stage,
and another to imagine tearing up.
And that's what that moment meant to me, for sure.
- [Interviewer] Well have you met
Lucy Liu since that monologue?
- No, I'm meeting her on Saturday.
I'm really nervous.
What do you wear to that, you know?
She's so cool, I don't know what I'm gonna do.
I'm gonna be like shivering, I don't know.
I don't know.
- [Interviewer] That's so exciting.
What does it mean being a woman in comedy?
- What it means to be a woman in comedy,
I think being a woman in comedy means
kind of building up that collective comradery
with the truths, the sometimes sad
and funny truths of being a woman.
But also, using it to empower,
using it to encourage, using it to laugh.
To further improve womanhood in general.
- [Interviewer] Are you annoyed
of being asked that question?
- I mean it's fine.
It's fine.
- [Interviewer] I've heard through the grapevine
you're creating your own show right now.
Are there any spoilers you can reveal?
- Yeah, at the end everyone dies in the spaceship.
- [Interviewer] What three words are used
to describe an Awkwafina set?
- Fun, full of joy, frolicking joyfully.
- [Interviewer] Fantastic.
Now I also hear you're great at impressions.
- No I'm not, I mean, like where'd you hear that from?
Like I'm not like that good, like I'm not.
It's not like I just wanna do that all the time.
But if like you asked maybe I would,
but I wouldn't do it unprompted.
Just like, it's really how you feel.
And if you wanna hear one.
- [Interviewer] Can you do one?
- Okay.
All right, how about this one.
This is a deep cut.
Okay ready? - Yeah.
- Where's the string beans?
Right, right, let me do one more.
It's better when I do it. - Okay.
- Where's the string beans.
I just left them on the table, and they're gone now.
Name it, name it, you don't, no.
It's older, so forget it.
- [Interviewer] I have no idea what that was,
but I loved it. - Thank you.
- [Interviewer] Now, you've worked with some
amazing actors. - I have, yes.
- [Interviewer] What's your dream ensemble cast?
- Me, all the dragons from "Game of Thrones,"
I'm talking all of 'em, all right, and Carol Burnett.
- Okay. Love Carol, too. - Yeah.
- [Interviewer] If you staged a heist
like in "Oceans 8," what would you wanna steal?
- Probably bagels, everything bagels.
I feel like they always run out of everything bagels,
so I wanna hoard them all, I want them all in a bagel room.
- [Interviewer] And you play a pickpocket in that film,
how method did you get with that?
- It depends on what you consider method.
Because it's like I found this somewhere.
- [Interviewer] Wait a sec, that's...
Are you serious, how did you?
- You know, you do a lot of wrist talking.
So, you know, that's your number one for pickpockets.
You talk a lot with your wrists.
I pulled this one, a Folex, what a good brand.
- [Interviewer] Hey, that is not a Folex, thank you.
So you received rave reviews about your performance
in The Farewell, what drew you to that?
- You know, I never thought in my lifetime
that I would receive a script that was about
an Asian American woman and the relationship
she has with her grandma, as well as the journey
of going from America to China.
It was incredible.
I can't believe I got it.
[speaking a foreign language]
- [Interviewer] And you're close
to your grandmother in real life.
- I am, she's my best friend.
- [Interviewer] Did that make it easier
or harder for you to tap this role?
- It made it easier in that I know
how to relate to that relationship.
And harder in that embodying the character
you have to imagine losing your grandma,
which was hard.
- [Interviewer] Describe her in three words.
- Okay here we go.
Fun, full of life, funny.
- [Interviewer] Nailed it.
So "Crazy Rich Asians" was the first Hollywood movie
with an all-Asian cast in 25 years.
what did that feel like to be a part of?
- When we were out there filming it
we knew that we were part of something special.
But to what extent we had no idea.
It wasn't until we came back and we would sit
through these screenings and see these kids come out crying
because that is the power of representation.
You don't realize how important it is
until you realize you've been missing it your whole life.
So yeah, it was really special.
- [Interviewer] How close is your personal style
to Peik Lin's personal style?
- Peik Lin, it's not close because Peik Lin
shops couture, Nora shops two for four.
Get it?
- [Interviewer] I see what you did there.
- I just made that up. - It was good.
- Great. - You're in comedy.
- Thank you.
- [Interviewer] I heard that you
have a nickname for Ken Jeong.
- Papafina.
- [Interviewer] And what's an article of clothing
you can't live without?
- I'd say a full-body Spanx,
one that goes from my toes to my neck.
- [Interviewer] What's your favorite look
that you wore on the red carpet?
- I love pantsuits.
- [Interviewer] What trend would you
like to see a little bit more of on the red carpet?
- I think we need more latex.
Specifically around the shins.
- [Interviewer] Are there any trends you regret trying?
- Ooh, I one time got short angry bangs.
And I would run my finger through it
and it felt like a toothbrush.
- [Interviewer] Do you have any daily skincare rituals?
- [Awkwafina] I use a serum and then I'll put, you know,
maybe some moisturizer right on top of that.
Maybe I'll put the moisturizer first
then the serum, who knows.
- [Interviewer] Whose word do you trust the most
when it comes to beauty products?
- [Awkwafina] My makeup artist,
shout out Kirin Bhatty, love you.
- [Interviewer] What are your thoughts on dating apps?
- Sorry, I misheard the question.
I mean I'm a gemini and I love walks on the beach.
I also love Joshua Tree, I can do all that.
But I also like a nice night home, maybe watching Netflix.
Maybe catching up on the "OA," I dunno.
Whatever you wanna do.
What sign are you, what are you doing later?
Are you free, do you like Thai food?
I know this great Thai place
called Pa Ord down in Hollywood.
I love Hollywood, I love Pantages.
I love "Cats, have you seen Cats?
I love show tunes.
- [Interviewer] I've only seen the trailer.
So what question do you wish you were asked less?
- Why are you this way?
- [Interviewer] And what's a question
that you wish you were asked more?
- I wanna be asked, how are you doing?
Like how are you doing?
Like really make eye contact with me.
You know? - Absolutely, absolutely.
And in the vein, do you prefer answering questions,
or do you prefer asking 'em?
- I like doing a bit of both.
I like being the interviewee,
and then also flipping it and becoming the interviewer.
- [Interviewer] Okay Awkwafina, this is our last question.
Question number 73.
Can I have my watch back?
- Oh wait, is that a phone?
Sorry, is that your phone?
Sorry. - Can I?
- Oh, it must be this one.
It must be this phone here.
- [Interviewer] The phone's not ringing.
- Hello?
Yeah, yes.
Oh how's your mom doing?
Sorry, I can't hear you, are you on a mountain?
Are you on a mountain?
Hello?
- [Interviewer] You know, just keep the watch.
- [Awkwafina] Oh yeah, no that was fun.