Awkwafina on Her Mixed Asian Heritage and Black Mirror

Mixed Asian Media - May 30, 2024

By Jacki Jing

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Black Mirror is back, and it’s just as brutal and haunting as ever. The episodes are packed with star-studded casts, but we were particularly excited about “Hotel Reverie,” featuring Awkafina. The IMDb description summarizes the show as: “A high-tech, unusually immersive remake of a vintage British film sends Hollywood A-list star Brandy Friday into another dimension, where she must stick to the script if she ever wants to make it home.” We caught up with Awkwafina about this episode and her mixed Asian heritage.

*This interview has been edited for clarity and length, and contains light spoilers.

So obviously our first question is, what is it like being mixed Chinese and Korean?

It's really interesting, because I feel like I had to explain a lot growing up that they're very different cultures. And they are—it's really hilarious how they don't really talk to one another in my family.

No, but they do. It's cool. It's cool, but it leaves you in this place where you sometimes don't really feel…either, right? And then you cling onto something that you've kind of made for yourself or your own identity. Then there are other times where you want to lean into it, and you discover more about yourself, and I think it's cool.

What was it like growing up?

Growing up mixed Asian, groups try to claim you in school and, well, I don't know Chinese, and I don't have the cool North Face. Then with the Korean crowd, I never felt I was kind of Asian enough for each group? Yeah, it was interesting. Are you mixed?

I'm mixed. I'm half Chinese. I think it's such an interesting experience because you never really fit in a group, and I think it makes us stronger to be honest, because you have to find your own identity and become your own person. I don't know if you relate to that at all.

Yeah. No, you have to. I mean being American is a big part of that identity too. You embrace it.

Is there anything that you're like, “I love this about my Korean side” or “I love this about my Chinese side?” I mean, I love Dim Sum.

Yeah, of course, I love Korean barbecue! I love everything. I think there's a rich cultural history to each one, and I think that there are people that really want to embrace you into the culture. I have a bunch of Korean friends that are always trying to teach me new things. And with my Chinese side, all my cousins are also mixed, so we try to relate too.

Focusing on the show, Issa Rae's character has this poignant moment where she's just like, “I don't want to be in a box anymore.” I'm sure everyone feels that sometimes. Do you?

Issa's character in the episode is so relatable. I think one thing that was really smart with the way that she's portrayed is she's constantly in solitude. I think you kind of understand that feeling of waking up and there's not really that much to do, especially when you're off. I think that it portrays it really well. It's a very, very relatable character.

Do you ever feel that, personally?

There's always that fear that you won't really be able to expand or that you're just kind of this one person now, because I think we all want to evolve. We want to change. We all want to challenge ourselves to some extent. So no one wants to be kind of stagnant, I guess. Yeah.

I think another part of the show that was really fun is she was able to insert herself as the lead actor in any movie. Is there a movie you would love to be the lead in? 

Ah, Howard the Duck. I want them to just superimpose my face on Howard the Duck and we'll do that again. Yeah.

You know all the lines already?

Uh, I mean, I could, yeah, I could download them. I could do a little read, but yeah, just put my head on Howard the duck's body. Yeah I love it.

Any other movies you’d love to be the lead in?

Oh man. I think every actress dreams of their Norma Desmond moment. I think that could be pretty sick. It's weird because I can't imagine Asian people in certain areas of Hollywood on TV. 

In this Black Mirror episode, Issa Rae literally has a moment where she's like, “Okay, this isn't weird? A Black woman in this 1940s film as the lead?” and they’re like, just roll with it. So is there a 1940s movie that you'd love to be in—and want to just do the dramatic look at the camera?

Yeah. There was a movie that we watched, oh my gosh, I forgot the title. It was kind of an homage to old British film, actually. My co-star Harriet Walter told me about this movie. They meet at the train, have one day together, and then they leave. I forgot the name!

I don't know it, but it sounds so romantic.

It's really good. Yeah, that era of British film, I really didn't know it. It really is very, very beautiful.

Okay, your next one. Dramatic romance with a train!

Black Mirror Season 7 is out on Netflix now.