Sunday Sitdown with Willie Geist - Awkwafina

Episode Date: July 14, 2019

Actor, rapper and comedian Awkwafina, whose given name is Nora Lum, has been on quite a ride over the last year with big roles in the box office hits “Crazy Rich Asians” and “Ocean’s 8.” In this week’s “Sunday Sitdown,” Willie Geist talks to the rising star about that whirlwind year as well as her latest, more dramatic performance in the new film “The Farewell.”  Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Hey guys, Willie Geist here with another episode of the Sunday Sit Down podcast. My thanks, as always to all of you for clicking and listening along. My guest this week is rapper, comedian, and actor Aquafina. One of the funniest people I've ever sat across from an interview I can safely say. And you're about to hear why I'm saying that. We're also trying something new this week. We're not trying something new. This is the new thing. That's how good this is going to be. Instead of me droning on and on introducing my guest, I figured I'd bring into the conversation, the producer of the Sunday Sit Down podcast, the great Maggie Law, to talk us through how this whole thing came together

and what you're about to hear. Hey, Mag. Hi, how's it going? I'm doing all right. Are you an Aquafina person? I am an Aquafina person. I was introduced with Crazy Rich Asians and took off from there.

Love that movie. Yeah, so the last year, here's her year, Aquafina, Crazy Rich Asians, preceded actually by Oceans 8. And she tells a great story in this interview about when she got the phone call where she was. Spoiler alert. She wasn't wearing pants. She was drinking a – she calls it a Laquois.

I called a La Croix. Is it La Croix? I'm a La Croy. I don't know what the right way is, but I say it's a little pretentious. I was going to say the Americanized. Yeah, but Aquafina can get away with anything. So she talks about the phone call where she heard she was in Oceans 8 and she said, what? Like, I'm going to be in a movie with Rihanna and Anne.

Hathaway, I, Suna, Roba, Kate Blanchett, that crew. She's one of the eight. Then Crazy Rich Asians blew up around the world, did almost a billion, quarter of a billion dollars at the box office. But the backstory on her is amazing. I mean, she came to be because of this viral video. I just say, she had the viral video. What did you say what the song is called? Do we have to say what the song is called?

Watched it myself the other day. Yeah, it's a lot. Mm-hmm. So it's a rap song that she put together. Yep. 2012 when she was 24 years old. I can't even say the name of the song. It's a response to, which was popular at the time.

Right. But she says it in the interview, which is great. So she's going to spare us. Yeah, yeah, yeah. And that kind of set her career off, right? Yeah. All those gigs. Yeah.

Yeah, Seth Rogan. Yeah, Seth Rogan saw that viral video. It's got like 4 million views online, the one we're not allowed to say. And Seth Rogan saw it. They cast her in Neighbors, too. And that was the beginning of her acting career. and that was only really a couple of years ago. She's incredibly funny.

She wanted to get together and eat dumplings, her request. So we went to a place called Philippe Chow in Midtown in New York City. We talked for a long time, and then as you'll hear in the interview, we crushed some dumplings. But she calls them dumps. Dumps. I noticed that. I wasn't totally comfortable with that term. I don't love that term either, but... Not my favorite term.

She's Aquafina. So you've been doing this podcast from the beginning. Our first one was Bill Murray. about a year and a half ago now. Yeah, on the two-year anniversary of the show. And you get to kind of sit and listen through them. Mm-hmm. And they're pretty much, right, unedited.

Yeah, unless. Full conversation. Unless we need a transition to get us between us talking and then when the dumplings come out, that's not super interesting to listen to. Right. Do you have a favorite guest? I'm going to put you on the spot on your first program.

Or what about a favorite couple of guests who've been on the TV show? Oh, yeah. And subsequently, Sunday, sit down. Favorite. You didn't like any of them, did you? I'm going to give you time to think. And when we come out of our interview with Aquafina,

you're going to give me your top three favorites Sunday, Sit Down podcast, guests. Can't wait. But for now, please enjoy our conversation with the hysterical Aquafina. Well, thank you for doing this. I appreciate it. Yeah, thanks for having me. So first things first, we just met. Yes.

So what do I call you? Do I call you Aquafina or how does this work? Um, you know, it's really, like, based on how you feel. Really? You know? Okay. Some people, like, will take the reins, you know? Mm-hmm.

Call me Nora. Really? Yeah, I've said this, fans call me Aquafina. Stans call me Nora. Okay. Yeah. So you could, I mean, it's up to you. It's really on you.

I almost feel like it's presumptuous for me to call you Nora. No, it implies that we're tight. I call you Willie. Yeah? Yeah. Okay. I don't have a stage name, though. I feel like it's me calling Lady Gaga, Stephanie, and I haven't earned that right.

Yeah, or like, Squerelex, Sunny. I know some people that call them by Sunny, you know? Yeah. Um, big a relax fan, obviously. Yeah, I don't, yeah. Okay. Call me Nora. All right. Really? I have permission. You call me yes for sure. Okay. That's on camera. Yes. All right. Well, thank you for doing this, Nora. Oh, thank you. For having me. Um, so let's talk first about the farewell. Okay. I told you I watched it last night. Yeah. It's amazing. Thank you. Um, when you got this story and you got this script, what drew you into it? Uh, you know, I got the script at a time where, you know, this was probably I just finished Oceans 8, and, you know, I didn't really know what was next. And, and I was getting scripts, but this specific one, my manager was like, you know, I'm not even going to tell you what it's a, just read it. And he knows about my relationship with my grandma, which is, you know, obviously a very close one. I was raised by her after, like, my mom passed when I was four. So the script was called at that time, Nainai, which means grandma in Chinese.

And it just already seemed auspicious. And I read through it and, you know, crying at the script, not realizing that it was already this American Life episode. And just being, like, really moved by the way it portrayed, not only the Asian American experience in a certain scenario, but also interacting with your family, like, in a really real way, I'd never seen anything like it. And just the fact that it was also directed and written

by an Asian American woman, again, at that time, I'd never seen anything like that either. So I was a, yeah, it was just, and I saw it as something that was meant to be in a weird way. You mentioned this American life. I don't think people realize right out of the gate this is based on a true story. Yeah, it's totally true story.

So without giving too much of the film away, because I want everybody who's watching to go see it, set up the story just a little bit and where you fall into it. So the story revolves around this girl, Billy, and she's an Asian-American girl who was raised for part of her childhood by her grandmother. And she learns, she's still very close to her grandmother, even though she lives in China. And she learns that her grandma has terminal lung cancer, but the family doesn't want to tell her.

And it's a very quizzical thing for someone from like a Western upbringing to like not tell someone they're sick. And so she goes to China, they stage a fake wedding, still not telling the grandma. And I believe to this day, she doesn't know. Really? Yeah. Wow. Yeah, there's that great line in there from your mother, I think it is, who said, you know, you don't die from the cancer. You die from knowing you have cancer.

Yeah. And there is, you know, I going into this movie, like, didn't understand that. I didn't even know they did that there. And, you know, in a Western perspective, it's a controversial lie. but going to China and actually going through the movie, filming it, understanding that experience, I see where the foundations of why they lie. I can see it now.

Yeah. Did you see any of that in your family going up through the years? Was that a cultural experience that you were even aware of? No, because my family is prone to just, you know, emotional breakdowns of everything. Pent up secrets. They never stay in for long. You guys go all the way the other way.

Yeah, you see like turkeys flying, you know, my aunts in there are crying. Oh, my aunts in the study crying now. So, yeah, so it's very explosive. But when I was, I got like a screener to show my grandma, she's, you know, in her 80s. And so she was on one side of my aunt, who's from El Salvador was on my other side. And my aunt was like, there's no way. Like, they don't do that. They didn't really do this.

And my grandma was like, duh. Like, where have you been? You know? And then I turned and I was like, do you want us to do that to you? And she was like, you might not do that. So like, yeah, like, yeah. So it's like you believe it until it happens to you. Right, right.

And then you're like, no. Yeah. So you, I mean, it sounds like there were some parallels with this story and you and your grandma, not just a close relationship. Yeah. But what did you see in the movie that reminded you of your own experience? Well, I think that, you know, what I related to it, what I learned later is that it's a very universal experience of like, first of all,

growing up with a sense of family and a sense of something, and then having that disappear and feeling as if it's been stolen from you. I think that that's something that everyone remembers when you're like in your 20s and you're leaving Thanksgiving at maybe your grandma's house or an aunt's house, remembering those childhood memories and remembering how much you've grown. And, you know, it's a simple progression of life, but it's also something that like you feel sad for. And so I related to that something that was that Lulu or Billy felt like she lost. But then also a very special relationship with your grandma that is more than just, oh, well, you bake me cookies. It's one of like, I tell you everything and you are my rock. And I know that

I'm losing you and it's so hard. And I think in a realistic sense, you know, as an actress, I had to confront something that I think that I have been really not wanting to confront, which is the idea of losing my grandma, you know? And I think that that really hits people, people that, whether their grandparents are still alive or they've lost them, you know, the story, like, touches that part. Does it feel like you'll be better equipped now

having done this movie to handle it, or you just understand it a little better? Man, I'll never be equipped for that. Yeah, I don't know how I will be, but I think it taught me how people can really show grief. There was a real sense of empathy that the actors had for both Lulu's family and each other and the story, you know, it was very, very real experience.

And as you said, your experience with your grandmother is even more intense than most. Yeah. Given the fact that your mom passed away when you were four years old. Yeah. Talk if you can about the role your grandmother stepped into and the void she was able to fill for you. Yeah, I mean, my grandma was everything. And I've said before, like, she did save me, you know. I needed, I think at that time,

I needed some kind of figure like that. And it wasn't easy for her to step in, and she did. And I was raised as her youngest child, and I think what it taught me growing up is that, you know, there are always these stereotypes of like what an Asian woman is and what they do. And my grandma was through and through the neck of my family, the financial neck of my family.

She took care, she raised all the kids. And she taught me to be strong. And from a very young age, a young age taught me, like, to not be embarrassed about the things that I was always embarrassed about. She was never that, like, go to med school. She was always just, like, you want to go do singing lessons? Like, let's go do singing lessons, you know? She really, like, nurtured that. So she was a gift in every way. I was interested to read that you actually have memories from around that time at four years old. I'm not sure if I would have intense memories like that of, whether

it's food or a moment or something that takes you back to that time in your life. For sure, yeah. I do. I have a lot of memories. And I think, you know, I once read that you don't usually have met, like, you know, my cousin, she doesn't remember anything past the age of like six, which I think is like, oh, crap. I'm like, you don't remember kindergarten? Like, come on. But I think it's, when something traumatic happens to at a young age, you do remember it a little bit. And so, you know, that was a moment of my life where it probably was like, yeah, it was like a turning point for me. Yeah.

And so as you got older with your grandmother at your side and you got some distance from the passing of your mother, was it your grandmother who made it a little bit easier? It wasn't going to be easy not to grow up with your mom, but was it she who did that? See, it's people don't think, like when you're raised by your grandma, it's not the same as being raised by your mom. Like, my grandma used, like, witch hazel and, like, her scent was genete, and when she would cover herself in it, do you know what Abil. Why do I know what Abilene is? You know what I mean? About Abilene. I she uses it for like everything like you know it's like it's like like literally if I woke up with a

headache and I had to go to school I'd be like grandma I have a headache tiger bomb so I'd go to school what what is tiger bomb give me a leave I want to leave you're rubbing not not even my head you know just rubbing my shoulders with tiger bomb I go to school they're like what's that smell so meant my eyes are burning it it wasn't the best like I you know like you know like you know you know I grew up with like, I don't want to go here, but I'm going, I'm going there. Go for it. Like, I, you know, when I, when I first got, you know, my, by period, you know, obviously it happens to women.

She gave me like, like, like a hospital, like, with a belt. And you're going to make me go to school like this? So it wasn't, I still have to figure out, like, you know, I was like, I was like, grandma, there has to be another color of eye shadow that isn't blue, you know? Like, is there one that exists, maybe a gold? I don't know. So, you know, it wasn't, but it was cool because I think what she did teach me was unconditional love for your family, because even the fact that she had stepped in.

And, you know, being raised by her was very special. Still have that belt. Do you really? No, I don't. Good, I was going to say. No, I don't. Throw it in the furnace. It sounds like she also taught you a sense of humor, right?

She did. She's a funny woman. Man, no joke was ever too dirty for her. Oh, really? Yeah, yeah, like, oh, man. See, I feel like that's another place where your mom might feel like, I've got to step in here, and I've got to teach my kid the right thing. But grandma's like, go for it.

Grandma's, I mean, I compare them to drug dealer. They're food pushers. That's what they do. They're like, I got something that you want. And the question is, do you want it? You know what I mean? And then they get you hooked. It's, yeah, it's, she's a food pusher.

But, you know, but grandmas, they're built to love to love. They're just, they're just someone that you feel safe with and that spoils you. And on top of that, my grandma is, you know, she's so wise. And it's like, I'll have the most specific questions about my career, you know, like, you know, I don't know. Like, I'm trying to figure out how to get health care. And she'll always have an answer, like a wise, like a very stereotypical Asian, like, piece of wisdom that always makes sense. It's like the wind blows to the north.

And it's like, oh my God, that's so true. It does. You know, so yeah, she's always, she's the best, she's the bestest friend I could ever ask for. And her answer to the healthcare question, of course, is Tiger Bomb. Yeah, she's like, you don't need healthcare, dude, you're young. And it's like, that's such a horrible answer. It's a horrible answer.

Because she's a nurse, so she thinks that she can like ail everything. Right. No, she made me like go home with like this huge thing of collagen peptides. And I was like, they're going to arrest me at the bill. Like, I'm not, what is it? I love your grandmother. I don't even know her. I would love to.

I would love to me. I would love you. She's got to join us. She would be drunk to do you. Like this. She would be like, hey, you want to some date? Stay for a minute. She sounds fun.

She's fun. She's a good time. So when this film, the farewell came to you, it comes sort of, at least, at least chronologically the end of this incredible year that you've had. Yeah. Where a lot of people knew you, but now a lot of people know you and love you through Oceans Aiding, Crazy Rich Asians, and hosting SNL. Yeah.

Did it feel like with this you wanted to do something serious to say, okay, you know I can be funny, you know I can be a little crazy, you can be that big character. Now I want to do something more serious. You know, I think I, okay, so, well, I think the answer to that is that this, script was very special for me. And so when I got it, it was like, I don't care if it's a sci-fi. I don't care if it's like borderline adult. I will do it because it's, it needs to be done.

And I think when actresses wake up, like you can't wake up and say like, I want to go into drama. And then a script lands and it's like, this is my foray, welcome. Right. You know, I was really worried about that. I, you know, it's a comedy, but not in the same sense that I was delivering comedy in this, like, a very, a very kind of, you know, an abrupt way. This is a comedy that the acting really doesn't have a lot to do with it. It's like it's a pulled out version, you pull it out, and then you see the comedy there.

So it was a challenge for me, but, yeah, I was nervous about the Chinese. I didn't not grow up in a Chinese speaking home. I was nervous about whether I could do that, you know. But, you know, those, I think that those things. went out the window for me when I got to China and I realized the levity of what what was in front of me, you know. This is a story that is very personal to me that when I when I conjure up Billy, there are memories from my childhood and my grandma, you know, I pull all of those. And if I knew that that it was based on that, I wouldn't have been stressed out, as stressed out as I was. It's not, yeah.

You talk so eloquently about representation and making not just your family proud, but an entire community of people proud. Sure. How does this role fit into that for you? I think, you know, I don't think that I'm, like, leading a movement. I don't think that the movement is happening. You know, I think that I'm a part of a movement, right? And this story, it's only more proof that, like, our voices matter. And that when you have stories that are so specific like this that are being open,

that people, like, that of all races, you know, Asian American cinema has always existed. One of my favorite movies growing up, this movie called Saving Face, and it was written and directed by an Asian American woman, but it didn't get the eyes that we're getting now. And I think that we have to remember what came before us and what we're leading to. The stories like this were never accessible to larger audiences. And now all generations of Asian Americans can see this movie.

They can see Crazy Rich Asians. So it's about accessibility, and it's about really passing the line of what stories matter. how they could be understood by American audiences, by larger audiences. Does that ever feel at all like a responsibility, though? Like, not only do I have to go make a good movie that people want to go see, but I've got to

represent my community well at the same time. Yeah, and I think that it's something that not a lot of other groups have to do, well, specifically, you know, like the mainstream. But I think when it comes to Asian Americans, there's just not a lot of us out there. And so you do have their responsibility. And I think a lot of people coming into the industry, like they don't want it at first.

They think that it's like, I'm just my own person. But you have to realize that you are indebted to your community because you want to help the generations that come before you. You know, it's not going to end here. It's going to keep going. So I want to make sure that I have to make sure that I set a good example for that. And the stories that I tell reflect them well. And that's very important to me. So with all that in mind, what does your grandma say?

What does your father say when they go and see you in crazy rich? Asians or when they see you in the farewell? I mean, they're, they're proud. Yeah. Like, I think, you know, my, my grandma is, she always, it's like she's always, she's always been there. And my dad, it took a little bit longer, but. On the career, on pursuing acting, it took him longer?

Yeah, because I had to, there was a minute where my dad was just like, no. Like, what, like, what are you doing, dude? But then I stopped telling him, because it's like, now he works at this really, at this really cool. firm and all his co-workers come up to him and like show him my news clips and they're like your daughter was at the Met Gala and he was like she's in New York

so like I stopped telling him a little bit but he's he's he's proud now yeah so by the way I have a friend who works at your dad's company oh no way you came in and spoke to them one day and he was so happy they said it was amazing I told I urged them not to fire him I was like just he's he's very happy here

great benefits just keep him on so you locked in the job security. I'll do it on one condition. I don't know if I could, I don't know how much insurance I could give them. Yeah, that was cool. That's awesome that you had to be. Yeah, they loved you by the way. Oh, good. You were a hit. I think it like spiced up the place. The spiced up the office, the law office. The law office. I'm known for doing that. I don't want to show off or anything, but yeah. So I mentioned this crazy year you've had, I guess Ocean's 8 was last June, so it's a little over a year that this craziness has happened in your life. Have you had time to stop?

and breathe and look back on what just happened over the last year? Not really, no. It's been busy, but you know what? I'm very thankful that it's busy because I spent a lot of my career sitting, you know, not too far away from here just in a really bad apartment, just like wondering what's going to happen, you know? So it's like I haven't really had a chance to breathe, but maybe I've had a chance to breathe, and this is the time I get to work.

What was it like to be on a poster, for example, Ocean's 8 with Sondra Bullock and Rihanna and Kate Blanchett and people like that? And to have people come out of that movie and say, great cast, but man, she's funny. Keep her eye on her. Confusing for me? I mean, shocking, yeah. Yeah.

Because I couldn't believe. I think I was in that same bedroom that I was just talking about, probably not wearing pants, just walking around, drinking a La Cois. And I get a call that's like, this is going to happen. I was like, what now? And then I think I just, I remember that I stood there. I really don't think I was wearing pants.

I'm sorry, Today Show. I'm sorry. But I was standing there and I hung up the phone. And I just was standing there. And I was like, you know, and it wasn't until I saw that, that poster made no sense that, you know, but I still can't believe that happened. And it was, like, so cool to, like, work with them and to not only work with them, but, like, to get close, to get close with them.

because they really embrace me. To this day, Sandy texts me, you know, how are you? I'm thinking about you. It's like, we're still a family. It's great. So how do you process that? How do you process being a fan of Sandra Bullock or fan of Brianna? And the next minute you're in a scene with her and she's texting you.

Well, I mean, that's cool. I think that for those people I have, I have an on-screen love for them of people that I loved watching. But they're my friends. They're friends, you know? Like, they're people. They're just cool people that I want to talk to and stuff. Yeah. So only two months after that, that dies down a little bit in the summer.

Yeah. Here comes crazy rich Asians, which turns into this worldwide phenomenon. It's already one of those movies. If it's on HBO, you just stop and watch it. Oh, it's an easy watch. It's my plane movie, dude. It's your... Oh, I'll play it.

It's embarrassing, too, when people realize what I'm doing on the plane. Yeah. like, that's me? No, but there was a period where oceans ate and crazy rotations were on the plane and all of these. So there was this one, so I would start, I would go up to people that were watching my movies on the plane. No.

But these are long flights, like from New York to, you know, JFK to L.A.S. So they're all tucked in in the flat beds. And I would go up to them and I'd be like, eh? Out of the 10 people I went, only one person put together that I was that girl. So what did the other nine think? That's what I want to know. No, I know.

No, they thought I was a crazy person. I was like, Asian girl, I'm Asian, get it? But there was one woman that watched Oceans 8 and Crazy Rich Asians. One after the, and I went up, no idea. She had no idea. She was like, okay. She did that. She did that to me.

And I was like, I don't even in her flatbed. Like, you don't have to be. She was scared of me. She was scared. You get up out of your seat and actively go over. I will recline my flatbed to normal position. Takes an hour. Take the blanket up.

Put my shoes on. And then I will walk through the other side. I will go into the cockpit, go like that. I do not. care. I just thought it was so cool. And then realizing it's so dark on the plane. So I no longer do that. The person I was traveling with, she always sees me do this. So I asked her to go tap. She always knows that they never know who I am. So she was like, no, I'm not doing it. This time. It's embarrassing for me and for you. It's the only joy I have, you know.

I was going to say for someone like you with your comedic mind, I bet you are only encouraged by the fact that they don't recognize you. It makes you want to do it more because it makes the moment better. Makes me sad. It makes me sad. I'm not going to lie. It doesn't encourage. I'm sad.

You're hoping finally someone will make the connection. Yeah, because how cool was, wouldn't you, if I was watching a movie on a plane and the actor from the movie during the actor's scene came up to me and was like, I would at least be like, I wouldn't, who does this? She was like, okay, who does that? I was like, bro. Oh my God. Who does it?

Oh, that's incredible. That is incredible. Yeah. So that part of the experience aside, what has the crazy rich Asians experience been like to be so popular in all the talk and the awards and everything else that came with it? Oh, man. It was so cool. It was like, you know, I remember seeing that book in the airport.

And even then, like, that was our representation. Because it was in a Hudson News and it's like crazy, you know. And I remember seeing it being a New York Times bestseller. I was like, that's so cool. And I remember it from then. And I think we, as a cast knew we were doing something special while we were there. We had no idea what it would lead to. And, you know, it's coined age in August.

And that's what happened. And I've met actors that have told me, like, I couldn't get an audition. I'm auditioning every day now. And it's, you know, I think it's, what I was scared, and I've said it before, like, I didn't want it to be like, diversity is not a trend. Representation is not a trend. You know, it's something that maybe we're shifting from, but we have to realize now

this is a part of Americans' daily lives. Like, our world is diverse. Our world is not one. And so I think that it was a realization of that. And a very joyous celebration for those who have lacked representation. and their entire lives. So why do you think the response was, forgive the term, so crazy?

It was a really good movie, I think most people liked, but it was like, there was some other layer to it. There was some other level that people responded to. There was, and I think, you know, not only, there was a very, you know, obviously a very important cultural and political impact, but there also was, you know, a kind of a revitalization of, like, what we loved at the movies, you know,

a big rom-com that has family, like ideas and and you know like a lot of shirtless men. There was that. Yeah. You know, everyone wants to feel joy at the theater. I think that that knowing that, you know, in the back of your mind and then also knowing, you know, what it means. And yeah, I think it's a new way of doing it.

It was great. So this energy and sense of humor we've been watching right here for the last half an hour. Oh, here? Oh, here? Yes. I'm interested in the origin of it. Your grandmother, clearly, was very funny. Yes.

So at what point did you say, I'm going to do something with this? I'm going to perform in some way. And maybe sometime down the road, this could be even a career. You probably didn't let yourself get that far early on. But when was the first performance for you? I think it was when I was really young that I realized that my joy does not run off of a solitary experience. Like, when I'm with someone, it's not just I'm throwing jokes at you and I want. I want you so badly to laugh that.

This is when I was young, like I would like literally like I would jump off a balcony like I would just anything I would shove up anything for to make you laugh so my where I derived joy from was like Joy from others that's that's what I run on and I think that that that really did start like you know After losing my mom you know it was a way for me to make things light and to like not be that person that's like I'm not I will not I know that you're sad but I don't want you to be sad when you see me I want you you to be happy when you see me. And it's really driven by that. And I just, I love, I love, I love doing that. I love making people laugh. I think that's a common experience. I've heard people who've lost a parent at a young age, Stephen Colbert talks about this. Really? His father died with his two brothers in a plane

crash. And it was like, he talks about trying to fix everyone. Yeah. That's where his humor came from. He just wanted to be funny and make people smile. Yeah, for sure. You felt some of that too. For sure. And I think that when you go through something like traumatic, you realize the extreme of, of that and how far it goes and how everything in between, it's like, I mean, it's not going to ever be as crazy as that. So it's like you can travel there and you can feel and you don't have to feel too. So it's a weird, I guess it gets in there a little bit. But clearly you had some special talent because you went to LaGuardia,

the prestigious Performing Arts High School. Well, I had a trumpet talent. What happened? Well, it got you in the door, right? What happened to the trumpet? You still playing at all? I do. I have neighbors and they have children.

But you can still play it? Oh, yeah. Yeah. I could do. I could tune out of. I could bugle blast. Yeah. I could blast the bugle, as I say.

I'm sure they love that. Yes, they do. No, I, yeah, it was a weird, it was a weird thing. I played, I want to hold your hand. People were going in there playing like Bach and Mozart. I went in there. I don't even know how to say Mozart's real name properly. But I went in there and played, I want to hold your hand.

Yeah, that's how it got in the school. And then. Is it true that in high school is when Aquafina was born? Yeah. Yes. Yeah. And so where did that come from, that character, that persona you created? You know, I started, I got my first MacBook and on it was garage band, which comes with all the computers.

And it was in very early phases. And I was trying to figure out, well, like a compressor and equalizer were, and you couldn't even Google how to use those things digitally. So I started, I discovered digital music. And I started making beats, like, obsessively. And I needed vocals on them. So there was born, you know, Aquafina. And how did you pick the name Aquafina? Just thought it was hilarious.

I literally am called that now. People call me that now, which I would have thought was hilarious back then, you know, but that's my curse. Just off the side of a water bottle, something like that? You know, don't want to get sued. So I want to sit. No, I'm kidding. I'm kidding. I mean, I'm past that.

Might get you an endorsement deal. Yeah. No, I thought it was a fun. I thought it was a fun name, you know, means fine water. That's good. That works. That's good. You flow like fine water. Sure.

Right? There you go. Okay. Thank you. We saved it. Yeah. Imagine if you didn't. Imagine if like I said that and I was like,

yeah, it's all right. You're just big nice. Thank you. Yeah, no. It was good. Yeah. And so the song that's out there. That it feels like to me, just looking through your career, was like the moment, right?

Where you created something that became popular and it the other things possible. That was really the moment. And if you think about it, everything comes back to that, right? Like my first movie, like, Neighbors 2, Seth Rogan and Nick Stoller saw that video and asked me to audition from there. Like, everything that happens comes from there. And that's why, like, you can't forget about that, you know? And so when I watch it, I cringe because it's just, it's so old and it's, like, that was, when I shot that video, I had never been in front of a camp, Like, except for like take a picture with my Asian family. I'd never, you know, and so that was very jarring and I was really nervous.

And I was also at a point in my life where I literally had nothing to lose except for a 9 to 5 job, which I did lose. But in a larger, what job did you lose? I worked for like a, I worked as a publicist. Yeah, right. And they weren't into the song in the video. I didn't know what publicity meant. Like if you asked me what, what is, what do you do? I send out mailers.

Like, I don't know what I do. lost that job but it was at a time where like I didn't have anything to lose and it was and I could see it in my face when I watched that video and you know like yeah that that was

everything started from there man that was the moment I remember people asked me like last summer especially they were like what does it feel like to like be finally be like famous and I was like I've like people at all and I was like I felt famous since my vats

can I say it I'm sorry since my Vag got like 7,000 views. I remember when my badge literally hit 7,000, and I was like, you guys, I'm famous. Like, I'm not kidding. Like, it was real.

I think I even had a party. I think I had a drinks night. I had 7,000 views, man. So it's like, and I think that I looked in the mirror and I was like, it's happening. So. By the way, the irony is, you joke,

it was happening. You just didn't know in that moment that it was happening. It was, it was, it was beginning to happen. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. But every view mattered, man.

I was surprised that it got more. Just because, you know, you have, people have videos up there and their aunt Liz is like, I love this, honey. You know, it's like, so I was, it was cool that people were watching it. And it was also cool because, you know, there wasn't really a lot. At the time, there wasn't a lot like it out there. Yeah. Yeah.

It's, do you like to, you want to keep your music career alive? Obviously, your movie. career is exploding right now. Do you what I mean, I know you put out a couple of albums as well. Do you want to keep that going? Music, music is a part of my fiber, you know, that's, you know, where a comedy, I have a different relationship with it, but music is something I taught myself and I have a very personal relationship with it as well. And so I'll always make music. But I think when it comes to like my work, you know, and my albums included, I have to be there. I have to be present.

Yeah. Mentally for it. And so when that time comes, it'll happen. So if you have the time, there might be another album. Yeah, I mean, I have some backlogs, you know, like, yeah, when the time comes. I don't see a lot of free time in your future, the way things are going. Yeah. We might have to wait a minute on that. Yeah, I think we're, like, running over.

Okay. I got to go, so. Well, with that in mind, I would ask you lastly about your Comedy Central show, Aquafina. Yeah. All-Female Writers' Room. What's the show going to look like when you roll it out? Oh, man. I think we're trying to figure that out, right?

now. Hopefully great. I have an amazing team behind me and, you know, the writer's room was, was incredible to work with all those, all those amazing women, you know, and we're, it's really cool. I went to the stages yesterday where we're building and everything's being done in Queens. I think we're, you know, like I'd say a huge percentage of it will be shot there. So it's, it's really cool to come back to my hometown in that way. And I think, I think it'll be something that people haven't seen yet. So that'll be cool. Much more of my conversation with Aquafina

on the Sunday Sit Down podcast just ahead as she talks about the odd job she took on before acting, including a stint as a food critic, all as we sit down to a big old plate of steam dumplings. Back now with more of my Sunday sit-down conversation with Aquafina. She wanted to grab some dumplings after our conversation.

So we did that and talked about her past as a food critic. So you were an expert on dumplings. We were talking about this when we sat down. Am I? I. I mean, you said you were. I'll take it. I'll take it.

I mean, you talk authoritatively about dumplings. I like soup dumps, yeah. Soup dumps. Okay. So we've got some dumps here. I know you were a food critic for a while, a food blogger. Yeah? I was, yes.

What was that gig like? When was that? That was in China. I worked for a food magazine where I think it was like the restaurants like paid the magazine. So one time I had I had clams and I, you know, wasn't very fond of them. And I said, wasn't fond of the clams. And my editor was like, no.

Oh, yeah. Wow. Five stars all the way. Really? I was a good food. So let me break this down. So this is actually dim sum style dumps if you will. This one.

Shrimp. Looks like shrimp. And I'm using a fork. No, wait a minute. What's with the fork? What do you mean? What do you mean? Should I eat it with a fork?

Is that the approach? Well, no, you got to use chopsticks, dude. Why don't you have to use chopsticks? I didn't eat in a restaurant, dude. All right? Have some respect, all right? I can't, see, I can't do a half one. I can't do a half one.

No, I go. Because then you have to cut it with your teeth. You know what I mean? People are watching you. So I'm going to stuff the whole thing in there. You going in? God, that's a hot toddy in there, too. How is it?

I feel like this is a good review. Just the long nod. Okay, I'm going in. Mm. Mm. Mm. Mm. Mm.

Mm. Oh, it's okay. It's all down. Do you like it? I like it. Did you take the whole thing? I did. How come it didn't incapacitate you as much as it did me?

I wondered what was taking so long as mine had been down for a good 30 seconds. I don't know what I'm doing with it. I don't know. Anyway, that was delicious. What's your review as the food critic who's paid by the restaurant? That is, it was so good. Oh, I was talking to this restaurant. For this restaurant, five stars, man.

Really? Yeah. I thought it was excellent. You like that? And I like a dumpling. Yeah, I was a food critic and, you know, not a good one by journalistic standards. And I worked in an air conditioning company. I actually did the reports for the trucks, the service trucks.

So I would just, I would literally, you know, in Rocco's modern life, there was a boss named Mr. Bighead. And all he did was, like, he had a stack of papers this high. And there was, like, numbers on it. And he would just put in the numbers, press enter. And then I always wanted a job like that. Because it's like, it just seems so like it's cut. And so that's what I did. for a year. I wore a lot of blush to that job over the life.

It's like Sharon from HR that wears a lot of blush. That was like me. And wore a lot of blush to that. And then I worked at a I worked at a law firm in the library. You've had a lot of gigs. Talk about work naps. Yeah. Naps everyday bodega. Worked at a video store. That was my favorite job. Really? Like old school sell the DVDs.

Yeah. VHS only. Oh, really? Well, some of that, some movies, yeah. Yeah, sure. That's old school. Yeah, lots of... And there was a couple of jobs, I believe, that your father was kind of encouraging to go toward, including air traffic controller.

Air traffic controller, meet inspector, sonogram technician. Wow. How did he pick those three? They're actually, he picked them after a lot of research, actually. They're very solid jobs. Yeah. Yeah. Well, also, I think he'd meet and...

inspector was one of those things like he might have saw in like a like a USA Today article or something. It's like, hey, hot jobs of the millennium, you know, just read it. But air traffic controller, you know, he, I mean, I would have been down. I wasn't qualified for any of these. Like dad, it's like, dad, I can't go and like take an x-ray of babies. You know, you need to go to school for that, you know. There's some training involved. Yeah, you don't just show up.

like your Ann Taylor loft outfit. And it's like, hey, let me in. I want to give me the thing in the lube. I want to do it all. Oh, look, there's more, oh, wow. Oh, no. No, no. This is the whole thing.

No, no. Is it a lot? Oh, no. It looked like a lot. Oh, I can hear it. He turned around. Yeah. Oh, he left?

He left. Yeah. Because of me? No, I felt like. Was it a cart? I felt like there was some waving off. Did he have a cart? No, not the full cart. Okay.

Oh, it's time to go. Let's just try this last one and then. Yeah. Now, I don't know quite what this is, but... It's green. Why? I thought you were like a dumpling expert. Mm-hmm.

Boy, that's a long chew. Missing a couple insiders. Do I have a small mouth and big teeth? Is that what's going on? I have a giant head. I think it's that my teeth are so big. My mouth is so... I'm not in pain while I'm...

They're very delicious. I'm not in pain. I'm sweating. I just felt like you were studying it. Like a good food critic. You were studying it. No, I was trying to get it down in time to not make it awkward.

I have to concentrate. Because if not, I'll just talk to my, I'll just talk to that, everyone. So your final review here is, Philippe does an excellent dumpling. Is that fair? Out of a scale, one to 17. Yeah. 18. Wow.

Wow. The classic Aquafina scale that goes to 17. 18 right here. Cheers. And that's, oh, cheers. Thank you. Cheers to you. My huge thanks.

again to Aquafina for a great conversation. She is so funny. Our new movie, The Farewell, is in theaters now. Maggie, Aquafina moving up the charts for me. I'm not ready to place her yet on my all-time list of Sunday sit-downs. Okay. But as we promised about 45 minutes ago, you would give us your favorite Sunday sit-down. All right. So I think top of the list, Kevin Hart, hilarious interview. Great one. And one of the longest ones, I think, too, that you've done, because it just was so funny. Yeah. Also, love. I loved Viola Davis. Oh, my gosh.

Kind of an outside pick, but such a deep, like, insightful, thoughtful conversation. Yes. Could listen to her talk forever. And then I also loved Ina Garden. Oh, who doesn't? I just feel like that's a classic conversation. That was one of the classic sit-downs too. Yeah.

Go after her house in the Hampton, drive around in the Mini Cooper. Yeah, she's got a convertible Mini Cooper drop top. She drove me around in. I loved Kevin Hart. That interview was up in the rafters at Madison Square Garden. He was wearing, it wasn't the holidays. It was last fall. He was wearing holiday pants.

But he had holiday pants. Plad red pants. Yep. And he did like a 10-minute riff about the pants. Loved it. And he basically, his takeaway was, I'm so successful now. I'm so rich that I can just get away with wearing pants like this off season. And wear holiday pants whenever.

Yes. And I'm totally, totally with you on Viola Davis. Yes. That was, people asked me about her. That was like sitting for a sermon almost. It was so deep and so life affirming. And man, that's why I love getting to do these. You get to spend an hour with these.

Yes, they're famous. they're in movies, but there's so much more there. And over the course of an hour, you get to peel through it all. So I like your list. Thank you. I'm going to come up with mine, although I don't want to alienate anybody. So I'm going to let you be the person who alienates everyone. Sounds good.

The great Maggie law joining us on the Sunday Sip About Town podcast. Thank you, Maggie. My thanks to all of you for tuning in. If you want to hear more of the full-length conversations with my guests every week, be sure to click subscribe so you never miss an episode. And don't forget to tune into Sunday today every weekend on NBC. I'm Willie Geist. We'll see you right back here next week on the Sunday Sit Down podcast.