Wunmi Mosaku: From Manchester roots to Oscar-nominated actress

British-Nigerian actress Wunmi Mosaku, 39, has earned an Academy Award nomination for Best Supporting Actress for her portrayal of the Hoodoo priestess Annie in Ryan Coogler’s genre-blending film ‘Sinners’. The movie stars Michael B. Jordan in dual roles as twins defending their 1930s Mississippi hometown from vampires. Mosaku’s journey to this milestone began on a Manchester estate, where she was inspired by the 1980s musical ‘Annie’. Discovering that actor Albert Finney, who also hailed from nearby Salford, attended RADA led her to audition for the prestigious school, a decision she says transformed her life. Her previous accolades include a BAFTA TV Award for her performance in ‘Damilola, Our Loved Boy’ (2016), based on the real-life story of the murdered 10-year-old Damilola Taylor. Mosaku’s career spans stage and screen, including roles in ‘Moses Jones’, ‘Vera’, ‘Luther’, ‘Passenger’, and the Marvel series ‘Loki’, where she plays Hunter B-15. Earlier this month, she published an open letter in British Vogue announcing her pregnancy while reflecting on the cultural significance of privacy within Nigerian traditions. She expressed gratitude for the success of ‘Sinners’ and acknowledged how the project deepened her professional and personal growth. Mosaku remains the only British actor among this year’s Oscar nominees, representing a major moment for British talent on the global stage.