Wunmi Mosaku: ‘Sinners’ Star on Her BAFTA Win, Pregnancy & Finding Her Roots
Wunmi Mosaku is having a moment. Fresh off a BAFTA win for her captivating performance in Ryan Coogler’s “Sinners,” the Manchester-born actress is navigating a whirlwind awards season – and a growing bump. Mosaku revealed she is pregnant at the Golden Globes, a decision rooted in a desire to protect the sanctity of this personal journey while acknowledging the increased public attention surrounding her work.
“I have some news,” Mosaku shared in a statement published by Vogue. “Beautiful, personal, sacred news. A prayer, really. It’s something I want to hold close, to nurture quietly…This feels like one of the few things that truly belongs to me.” In her Nigerian culture, she explained, pregnancy is traditionally a private matter, and she initially resisted publicizing it. However, the visibility brought by “Sinners” prompted her to share the news on her own terms.
Mosaku’s portrayal of Annie, a Hoodoo priestess in “Sinners,” has garnered widespread acclaim. She became the first Black British winner of the supporting actress category at the BAFTA Awards, a victory she described as deeply meaningful. “I found a part of myself in Annie, a part of my hopes, my ancestral power and connection, parts I thought I had lost or tried to dim as an immigrant trying to fit in,” she said, as reported by the BBC.
The journey to this point hasn’t been without its challenges. Mosaku’s path into acting began with a somewhat accidental application to the Royal Academy of Dramatic Arts (RADA), the only drama school she knew of. She recalled feeling isolated as one of only a handful of Black students in her class, and struggled to find roles that reflected her identity. “I didn’t get any lead parts, I didn’t get any ingenues,” she told Indiewire. “I was playing 50-year-old sea captains, 80-year-old grandmas, and moms. I never got anything in my age range, in my casting bracket either.”
Despite the initial hurdles, Mosaku persevered, landing roles in projects like the BBC Two miniseries “Moses Jones” in , which she credits with changing her career trajectory. She subsequently appeared in “Damilola, Our Loved Boy” (for which she won a BAFTA for television in ), “Luther,” “Lovecraft Country,” and Marvel’s “Loki,” steadily building a reputation for taking on complex and weighty characters.
Mosaku’s success is particularly poignant given the historical lack of representation for Black British actors. She acknowledged the difficulties faced by previous generations, noting that many talented performers had to seek opportunities in the United States. “England can be a tough place to live as a person of color,” she said to Indiewire. “You feel like screaming into the void: ‘See me. Value me.’”
Her casting in “Sinners” came about after Coogler saw her in a small role in another project. He remembered her performance and kept her in mind while writing the script, eventually offering her the role of Annie. Mosaku described the audition process as unique, saying, “He didn’t know me…That was the thing that made him go, ‘She might be my Annie.’” The chemistry read with Michael B. Jordan sealed the deal.
Mosaku spoke passionately about the themes explored in “Sinners,” emphasizing its focus on truth, purpose, and love. She also highlighted the importance of ancestral connection and the power of spirituality. “The movie’s about living in your truth,” she explained. “Living in your purpose, living in love.”
Balancing the demands of an awards season with the realities of pregnancy hasn’t been easy. Mosaku recounted a particularly challenging day on the set of “Sinners” when she experienced a panic attack while navigating the logistics of breastfeeding and pumping. She also accidentally cut her thumb while preparing vegetables, requiring a trip to urgent care. “It was a shock to the system going back to work like that,” she said.
Mosaku’s exploration of her Yoruba heritage deepened during the making of “Sinners,” as she researched the Hoodoo faith system. She discovered a connection to her ancestral roots and a renewed sense of cultural pride. “I had whole conversations in Yoruba, and I’d never been able to do that before,” she shared.
Looking ahead, Mosaku has several projects in the pipeline, including “This Is How It Goes” with Idris Elba, Aaron Sorkin’s “The Social Reckoning,” and Tim Blake Nelson’s “The Life and Deaths of Wilson Shedd” alongside Amanda Seyfried. Her career continues to ascend, fueled by talent, resilience, and a commitment to authentic storytelling.