Wunmi Mosaku's journey from the estate in Manchester to receiving an Oscar nomination is both inspiring and remarkable. As a young girl, she was captivated by the world of acting, with the 1980s musical Annie sparking her passion. "I used to watch Annie every single day after school," the 39-year-old actress shared during her recent appearance on The Graham Norton Show.
She vividly recalls declaring to her mother and sister, "I don’t want to pursue maths and economics; I want to act!" When they responded with doubts about how to make that happen, she admitted, "I didn't have a clue."
Determined to find answers, Mosaku turned to Google to explore the cast of her beloved film. One actor caught her attention: Albert Finney, who hailed from Salford, not far from her own home in Manchester. Inspired by his path, she learned about the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art (RADA) after discovering he had attended. "That was the first time I ever heard of drama school, so I auditioned for RADA and got accepted. It changed my entire life. I will love that film forever."
Recently, it was announced that Mosaku has been nominated for an Oscar for Best Supporting Actress for her portrayal of Hoodoo priestess Annie in the film Sinners. Notably, she stands out as the only British nominee in the acting category this year. Beyond the Oscar nod, she has also received a supporting actress nomination at the Actor Awards (previously known as SAG) and has made it onto the Bafta longlist for her performance.
Sinners, a genre-defying movie directed by the acclaimed Ryan Coogler, features Michael B. Jordan in a dual role as twins Smoke and Stack. The plot unfolds in Mississippi during the 1930s, where the twins must protect their hometown from vampires.
During last year’s promotional tour for Sinners, Mosaku reflected on the profound impact of her character, Annie, and how the role continued to resonate with her even after filming wrapped. "I deeply contemplate what I learned from Sinners and Annie. What did I have to unlearn?" she expressed. "Whenever self-doubt creeps in, I often revisit those lessons. So, when someone asks me about my experiences, I think, ‘This is where Annie has been helpful today or this is how Sinners has impacted me.’"
Mosaku's talent has not gone unnoticed in the past. She previously won a Bafta TV Award for Best Supporting Actress in 2016 for her role as Gloria Taylor in the poignant TV film Damilola, Our Loved Boy. This drama recounts the tragic story of 10-year-old schoolboy Damilola Taylor, who was fatally stabbed and left to die in a stairwell in South London in November 2000. Mosaku was only 15 years old when she learned of this heartbreaking incident.
Reflecting on her own background, she remarked, "I immigrated from Nigeria as a child. Until I read the script, I had no idea how long he’d been in the country, so I thought he might have been just like me, new to school. I related to him and the Nigerian community I knew in Manchester. Having grown up in a Manchester estate, I’ve seen friends get caught up in gang violence, and I often think, 'If I had been in a different situation, that could have been me.'"
Mosaku's career launched with her first professional role in the play The Great Theatre of the World. Over the years, she has taken on a variety of roles, including Joy in the BBC Two miniseries Moses Jones, Holly Lawson in ITV's Vera, Det Sgt Catherine Halliday in Luther, and former Met Police detective Riya Ajunwa in ITV’s Passenger. She also portrayed Dr. Verity Willis, also known as Hunter B-15, in the Marvel series Loki and reprised her role in the upcoming Deadpool & Wolverine film.
Just earlier this month, Mosaku made headlines with an "anti-announcement pregnancy announcement" in British Vogue, preemptively addressing any speculation about her personal life. In her heartfelt open letter, she revealed that she is expecting her second child. "In my Nigerian culture, we typically don’t share this kind of news publicly. It’s something meant to be cherished and protected. My instinct is to keep it private—not out of lack of gratitude or joy but because it feels like one of the few aspects of my life that truly belongs to me. The success of Sinners, which has blessed me in so many ways and connected me with a cast and crew that feel like family, has also brought me greater visibility. As awards season approaches, I’ll be navigating the public eye with an expanding baby bump alongside my colleagues."
What are your thoughts on Wunmi Mosaku’s incredible journey? Do you believe representation in film and television is important? Share your opinions in the comments below!
