Awkwafina on her Migration role: British pigeons are ‘more polite’ than New York pigeons
American actress and rapper Awkwafina says British pigeons are “more polite” than their New York counterparts, because they walk slower.
The 35-year-old star voices Chump, the scrappy leader of a New York City pigeon gang, in animated movie Migration.
Chump. Pic: Illumination Entertainment/Universal Studios
From the makers of Despicable Me, Minions, and The Secret Life Of Pets, it tells the story of a Mallard family who go on a family adventure to Jamaica.
Like her character Chump, Awkwafina – who is 5′ 1″ tall – tells Sky News she has “a big, big personality, but is very small” adding, “and she’s a real New Yorker. So, I feel like that’s definitely something I identify with.”
Her prep for the role was somewhat organic: “My drama study on pigeons is just growing up in New York and constantly just almost having one just fly into my mouth.”
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She’s had direct interaction with our British pigeon counterparts too: “I’ve had some interactions. I feel like they’re more polite. They still walk fast, but not that fast, you know what I mean?”
Her Migration co-star Keegan Michael-Key, who plays homesick Jamaican parrot Delroy, jokes: “They get out of the way quicker.”
Like many New Yorkers Awkwafina admits she isn’t too keen on the birds, which are often categorised as pests, adding: “They’re gritty, they’re one of the city. So, I feel like that’s that was my study. Just living in New York.”
Pic: Illumination Entertainment/Universal Studios
Meanwhile, Elizabeth Banks, says she and Kumail Nanjiani, who play Pam and Mack Mallard, “did a lot of flapping while recording”.
Banks adds: “You have to put the physicality into it when you’re flying around.”
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Despite the attraction of not having to get make-up or costume for voice acting, Banks says she’d never want to do voice work alone.
“I like the voice work. It’s really fun. It’s really easy. But there’s an element missing, which is the other people.”
Pic: Illumination Entertainment/Universal Studios
And she says her kids and husband will definitely see her own character reflected in her mummy-duck portrayal.
“My tone of voice in this movie comes directly from my parenting style, which is a lot like, you stay as calm as possible while moving things along until the point at which we actually need to do something.”
Also starring Danny DeVito, who plays Uncle Dan – it’s the unusual thing about animated movies that the cast often don’t meet each other until after filming, when promoting the movie.
Despite not meeting him on set, Awkwafina – a self-professed DeVito fan – has a plan to meet her idol.
“I love Danny DeVito. He’s the best. I’m planning [a wrap party] just for that reason.
Migration is in UK cinemas now.
Entertainment
MasterChef presenter John Torode says allegation he used racist language upheld in report
Entertainment
Gregg Wallace: Over half of allegations against MasterChef presenter substantiated, including one of unwanted physical contact
An investigation into Gregg Wallace’s “inappropriate behaviour” on MasterChef has found that more than half of the allegations against him have been substantiated, including one of “unwanted physical contact”.
MasterChef’s production company Banijay UK shared a summary of its report into historical allegations of misconduct against the 60-year-old presenter, carried out by independent law firm Lewis Silkin over seven months.
The report also said the number of sustained allegations made Wallace’s return to MasterChef “untenable”.
The investigation heard evidence from 78 witnesses, including 41 complainants.
There were 83 allegations against Wallace, and 45 of them were substantiated. All were related to MasterChef.
While the majority of the substantiated allegations related to inappropriate sexual language and humour, a smaller number of allegations of other inappropriate language and being in a state of undress were also substantiated.
One allegation of unwanted physical contact was substantiated.
Nearly all the allegations against Wallace were related to behaviour which is said to have occurred between 2005 and 2018, with just one substantiated allegation taking place post-2018.
Wallace and Anne-Marie Sterpini in 2014
Ahead of the publication of the summary, Wallace had said he had been “cleared of the most serious and sensational accusations” made against him.
Additionally, the report summary found that there were also 10 standalone allegations about other people between 2012 and 2018/2019, two of which were substantiated. Those people were not named in the summary.
The investigation found that complaints had previously been raised with the production company between 2005 and 2024.
Gregg Wallace on MasterChef. Pic: BBC/ Shine TV 2024
While the report flagged inadequate reporting procedures prior to 2016, when Endemol merged with Shine ahead of Banijay acquiring Endemol Shine in 2020, it said there were significant improvements to HR processes and training after 2016.
While the investigation said some formal action was taken by the BBC in 2017, it also noted the corporation held no information regarding concerns raised over Wallace centrally, resulting in issues being addressed as a first offence.
Sky News has tried to contact Gregg Wallace for contact today.
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