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Ali Wong

アリ・ウォン

Ari Won

Aliases: Alexandra Dawn Wong

Profile

Gender
Female
Born
1982-04-19 （San Francisco, California, U.S.）
Nationality
American
Languages
English
Religion
Unknown
Residence History
San Francisco → Los Angeles → Hanoi → New York City

Career

Occupations
Comedian, Actress, Writer, Executive Producer
Active Years
2002-2024
Nominations
Grammy Award nomination for Best Comedy Album (Single Lady, 2026)

Education

San Francisco University High School
Degree: 高校卒業
Period: 1996-2000
Year of Graduation: 2000
Country: United States
Student body class president
University of California, Los Angeles
College of Letters and Science / Asian American Studies
Degree: 文学士 (BA)
Period: 2000-2004
Year of Graduation: 2004
Country: United States
Studied abroad in Hanoi, Vietnam during junior year; Fulbright program in Vietnam after graduation

Awards

Primetime Emmy Award
2024
Work: Beef
Category: Outstanding Lead Actress in a Limited or Anthology Series or Movie
Organization: Academy of Television Arts & Sciences
Result: Won
Primetime Emmy Award
2024
Work: Beef
Category: Outstanding Limited or Anthology Series
Organization: Academy of Television Arts & Sciences
Result: Won
Golden Globe Award
2024
Work: Beef
Category: Best Actress in a Miniseries or Television Film
Organization: Hollywood Foreign Press Association
Result: Won
Golden Globe Award
2025
Work: Ali Wong: Single Lady
Category: Best Performance in Stand-Up Comedy on Television
Organization: Hollywood Foreign Press Association
Result: Won
Screen Actors Guild Award
2024
Work: Beef
Category: Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Miniseries or Television Movie
Organization: Screen Actors Guild
Result: Won
Goodreads Choice Awards
2019
Work: Dear Girls
Category: Humor
Organization: Goodreads
Result: Won

Awards & Nominations

Works

Major Works

Baby Cobra

2016 Stand-up Comedy

Netflix stand-up special filmed in Seattle at 7 months pregnant, candidly discussing pregnancy, motherhood, and career with raunchy humor.

PregnancyMotherhoodAsian American ExperienceFeminism

Hard Knock Wife

2018 Stand-up Comedy

Second Netflix special filmed in Toronto at 7 months pregnant with second child, exploring marriage and motherhood.

MarriageParentingImmigrant Parents

Don Wong

2022 Stand-up Comedy

Third Netflix stand-up special delving into personal experiences.

FamilyCareerFailure

Single Lady

2024 Stand-up Comedy

Fourth special on life after divorce, won Golden Globe.

DivorceSingle MotherhoodSuccess

Dear Girls: Intimate Tales, Untold Secrets and Advice for Living Your Best Life

2019 Humor/Essay 240 pages

Collection of letters to her daughters with life advice, personal stories, and humor. Won Goodreads Choice Award for Humor.

Women's LivesMother-DaughterComedy

Bibliography

  • Baby Cobra (2016)
  • Hard Knock Wife (2018)
  • Dear Girls (2019)
  • Don Wong (2022)
  • Single Lady (2024)

Style & Themes

Literary Style
Raunchy and raw humorConfessionalStorytelling
Recurring Motifs
Pregnancy and childbirthAsian identityFailure and resilienceFamily dynamics

Legacy

Pioneering stand-up comedian known for performing pregnant, first woman of Asian descent to win Emmy for lead actress in limited series and Golden Globe in that category. Named in Time 100 twice.

In Popular Culture

  • Netflix specials went viral, Beef critically acclaimed

Trivia

  • Mother emigrated from Huế, Vietnam; father Chinese-American anesthesiologist born in San Francisco
  • Filmed two stand-up specials while 7 months pregnant
  • First Asian woman to win Golden Globe for lead actress in miniseries with Beef
  • Fulbright Scholar teaching English in Vietnam
  • Named to Time 100 Most Influential People in 2020 and 2023