Awkwafina reflects on making history at the Golden Globes and admits she owes career to Lucy Liu

She became the first Asian American to pick up the coveted Best Actress award at the Golden Globes earlier this year.

And in a new cover interview with Vogue Australia, Awkwafina, 32, has admitted that she ‘still gets the chills’ when she thinks back to the history-making moment.

The star, who was born to a Korean mother and Chinese father, also credited the successes of her career to actress Lucy Liu, 52, who broke boundaries for young girls like her. 

Awkwafina, real name Nora Lum, told the fashion bible: ‘When you’re young, and you turn on the TV and don’t see kids that look like you, then by default you take the perspective of an outsider.

‘Without [representation], you’re literally sitting there playing imaginary friends. It’s different than just being the Asian front girl, in a group of girls, with no development, no substance.’

Speaking further of the significance of Charlie’s Angels, star Lucy, Awkwafina added: ‘You want to be able to tell those stories and tell them authentically. That’s representation.’  

After hitting the big time in the critically acclaimed 2018 comedy romance, Crazy Rich Asian, Awkwafina pulled at the heartstrings of viewers in The Farewell.

Her lead role in the movie earned her widespread acclaim, and she won the Best Actress award at the Golden Globe – the first person of Asian descent to do so.

Speaking of the career-defining moment, the multi-talented star said: I can’t believe it was this year. When I think about it, even right now, I still get the chills.’  

Awkwafina had been in Australia from July to October to film for Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings in western Sydney.

Marvel’s first Asian superhero movie will also star Michelle Yeoh, Simu Liu, Tony Leung and Rosalind Chao.

The movie was initially scheduled to hit theatres on February 12, 2021, the first day of Chinese New Year, but has since been pushed back to July 9, 2021.