She’s only the sixth woman of Asian descent to be nominated in the lead actress in a musical or comedy category.
Wu’s nomination last year was notable for ending a disappointing drought of female nominees of Asian descent that lasted almost half a century.
Awkwafina joins a small group of performers of Asian lineage who have won Golden Globe awards since the show started. Sandra Oh is the only performer of Asian descent to have won twice.
“The Farewell,” which features as predominantly Asian cast, tells the story of a young woman named Billi (Awkwafina) whose family decides to keep news of a terminal diagnosis from the family’s elder matriarch, Billi’s grandmother Nai Nai (Shuzhen Zhao).
Writer and director Lulu Wang adapted a personal story she first told on NPR’s “This American Life.”
In her acceptance speech, Awkwafina said Wang gave her “the chance of a lifetime” and “taught me so much.”
She dedicated her award to her father.
“I told you I’d get a job, dad.”
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