UAlbany Grad Snags Starring Role in Marvel Film

By Jaidyn Hires, Staff Contributor

Golden Globe winning actress Awkwafina (born as Nora Lum) graduated from UAlbany with a bachelor’s degree in journalism and women’s studies. In 2019, she was named one of UAlbany’s Outstanding Young Alumni. It was in her dorm where she wrote lyrics for “My Vag,” her viral 2012 music video. 

In her latest role, Awkwafina stars as Katy in Marvel’s “Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings.” Before entering the Marvel Cinematic Universe, she had featured roles in movies such as “Crazy Rich Asians,” “Ocean’s Eight,” “Jumanji” and “The Farewell.” She’s also done a significant amount of voice acting work, her latest being in Disney’s “Raya and the Last Dragon.”

Jackson Murphy, Emmy-winning film critic for 99.5 The River, says that the Capitol Region is becoming something of a hot spot for filming and acting talent. “We’ve had some stars from the Capitol Region involved in major projects, including Schenectady’s Mickey Rourke, who was in ‘Iron Man 2.’ The Capitol Region has also hosted Marvel by filming ‘The Punisher’ in Albany a few years ago,” he said in an interview with the Hudsonian. 

He continued, “Hollywood’s interest in filming in the Capitol Region has definitely grown over the last 12 years, from Angelina Jolie being here for ‘Salt,’ to ‘The Other Guys,’ ‘The Place Beyond the Pines’ and Amazon’s ‘Modern Love’ series. And I think we’ll continue to get more films and TV shows over the next several years.” 

Troy saw HBO’s “Golden Age” take over downtown streets and storefronts this summer, continuing the trend. HBO also took to downtown Albany, using structures such as the State Education building as a stand-in for Washington D.C.