Asian-American actress Awkwafina became the first Asian woman to win best actress in a motion picture, musical or comedy in the Golden Globes. She won the coveted prize for her role in "The Farewell" by Chinese-American film director Lulu Wang.

Awkwafina, whose real name is Nora Lum, is also the first woman of Asian descent to win a Golden Globe in any lead actress film category. 

She's also only the sixth woman of Asian descent to be nominated in the best actress in a musical or comedy category. The others were Machiko Kyo ("The Teahouse of the August Moon" in 1956), Miyoshi Umeki ("Flower Drum Song" in 1961), Yvonne Elliman ("Jesus Christ Superstar" in 1973), and Constance Wu ("Crazy Rich Asians" in 2018). Hailee Steinfeld, whose mother is of Filipino descent, was also nominated for her role in "Edge of Seventeen" in 2016.

In her acceptance speech, Awkwafina said Wang gave her "the chance of a lifetime" and "taught me so much". She then dedicated her award to her father saying, "I told you I'd get a job, dad."

Awkwafina was born in New York to her Chinese-American father and South Korean immigrant mother, and once traveled back to China to study Chinese in Beijing. Awkwafina began rapping at 13 and became an internet sensation in 2012.

Lulu Wang's "The Farewell," based in part on Wang's life experiences, follows a Chinese-American girl returning to China to say goodbye to her terminally ill grandmother. The comedy-drama revolves around a Chinese family which, upon learning that their grandmother has terminal lung cancer, decides not to tell her about the diagnosis but instead schedules an impromptu wedding-reunion before she dies. 

The film shows the cultural clash and ethical divide between Chinese and American cultures as seen in the different ways they handle death. In its first weekend in only four American theaters, the film beat the record of the biggest per-theater ticket sales average of the year, previously held by "Avengers: Endgame," the second best-selling movie in history. The small family drama quickly won over viewers and critics alike, with many calling it one of the best films of 2019. 

"The Farewell" is an American movie - but one that largely takes place in China, in the city of Changchun and has mostly Chinese dialogue. The film resonates with many Asian Americans who not only see characters and faces seldom found in American films, but also experience a familiar world through the movie.

The film is set to hit the big screen on the Chinese mainland on Jan. 10.

Awkwafina is known in China for her roles in several Hollywood blockbusters such as "Crazy Rich Asians," "Ocean's 8" and most recently "Jumanji: The Next Level". She will also star in the upcoming Disney and Marvel Studios' first Chinese superhero film "Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings."

At the 77th Golden Globe Awards on Sunday night, Universal's epic war film "1917" and Sony's comedy film "Once Upon a Time in Hollywood" took home the top prizes, winning best drama and best comedy, respectively.

The 77th Golden Globe Awards, run by the Hollywood Foreign Press Association and held at the Beverly Hilton in Beverly Hills, California, honors the best in film and American television.

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