Emmys spotlight: Awkwafina has all the right answers in ‘Quiz Lady’
Awkwafina rose to fame with her idiosyncratic, trademark comedic stylings. Then she wowed us all with her against-type performance in Lulu Wang‘s “The Farewell,” which very nearly earned her an Oscar nomination back in 2019. She delivers another quiet, subdued role in the Hulu telefilm “Quiz Lady,” which could well reap her a career-first Emmy bid for acting.
Awkwafina plays the reserved Anne, who must compete on the game show she is obsessed with alongside her loud, abrasive, estranged sister Jenny (Sandra Oh) in order to pay off their mom’s gambling debts. The result is a heartwarming comedy that is one of the sweet treats of the year. Critics loved the movie and singled out Awkafina for particular praise.
Tania Hussain (Collider) exclaimed: “While Awkwafina has shown audiences a whacky, often one-dimensional side in some of her roles like the sitcom ‘Awkwafina Is Nora From Queens,’ she is able to break out of that shell and show us what more she can do in a similar vein to her performance in 2019’s ‘The Farewell.’ With the writing displaying a glint of heartbreak through Anne, we see a deeper side to the quiet life she lives through Awkwafina’s absorbing performance. She never overdoes Anne’s reactions following Jenny’s missteps and holds us close with the utmost attention.”
Mae Abdulbaki (Screen Rant) observed: “Awkwafina’s Anne is more restrained, and the actress plays up her anxiety and nervousness, as well as the pent-up frustration and anger she has for Jenny. Crucially, Awkwafina and Oh have excellent chemistry. The film simply wouldn’t work without either of them and their scenes together are always fantastic, elevating the material.”
Katie Smith-Wong (Digital Spy) noted: “Awkwafina breaks away from her larger-than-life characters in previous roles. Being the mature one in the duo, her muted performance as the endearing Anne is the yin to Jenny’s yang; both women demonstrate aspects of their acting range that not only works in ‘Quiz Lady,’ but brings depth.”
Awkwafina could well reap a bid for Best TV Movie/Limited Series Actress in what is a very competitive year. You might think that the fact that she is competing against Oh would hinder both of their chances. But Emmy voters have shown that they are more than willing to nominate two people from the same show in this category. Aunjanue Ellis and Niecy Nash (“When They See Us”), Jessica Lange and Susan Sarandon (“Feud: Bette and Joan”), Nicole Kidman and Reese Witherspoon (“Big Little Lies”), and Lange and Sarah Paulson (“American Horror Story: Coven”).
Awkwafina has arrived at that sweet spot of being a recognizable face thanks to stellar work in previous roles but is also still a relative newcomer. Emmy voters love this type of actress in this category. Recent such nominees include Riley Keough (“Daisy Jones & the Six”), Dominique Fishback (“Swarm”), Lizzy Caplan (“Fleishman is in Trouble”), Margaret Qualley (“Maid”), Anya Taylor-Joy (“The Queen’s Gambit”), and Shira Haas (“Unorthodox”).
She is still looking for her first acting nomination; she contended last year for Best Short Form Comedy/Drama/Variety Series for “Awkwafina is Hangin’ with Grandma.” This category could provide her with that first such citation as it has with several other young actresses: Fishback (“Swarm”), Keough (“Daisy Jones & the Six”), Caplan (“Fleishman is in Trouble”), Lily James (“Pam & Tommy”), Taylor-Joy (“The Queen’s Gambit”), Haas (“Unorthodox”), and Joey King (“The Act”)
Awkafina also produced “Quiz Lady” alongside Oh. Emmy voters admire women who oversee the shows in which they star. Kathryn Hahn (“Tiny Beautiful Things”), Ali Wong (“Beef”), Jessica Chastain (“George and Tammy”), Kate Winslet (“Mare of Easttown”), Octavia Spencer (“Self Made”), and Kerry Washington (“Little Fires Everywhere”) all earned nominations in this category for shows they also produced.
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