From YouTube Sensation to Star of Ocean's 8, the Story Behind Awkwafina's Rise to Stardom

It all started when Nora Lum covered a Mickey Avalon song

Introducing the Adweek Podcast Network. Access infinite inspiration in your pocket on everything from career advice and creativity to metaverse marketing and more. Browse all podcasts.

Musician. Comedian. Actress. YouTube personality. TV host. Nora Lum, who goes by Awkwafina online and as a musician, has almost done it all over her relatively short career. But her next step reaches the peak of the traditional entertainment world: Hollywood.

Lum has been cast as one of the stars of Ocean’s 8, the all-female reboot of the Ocean’s 11 franchise.

Fittingly, her journey began with YouTube, or as she calls it, “Asian Hollywood.”

“It’s a place for minorities to go to really take the reins of whatever project they want to be doing without getting passed by some kind of gatekeeper,” Lum said.

She

AW+

WORK SMARTER - LEARN, GROW AND BE INSPIRED.

Subscribe today!

To Read the Full Story Become an Adweek+ Subscriber

View Subscription Options

Already a member? Sign in