Wunmi Mosaku Shares Her Thoughts on the Oscar Nomination for Best Supporting Actress in ‘Sinners’: Heartfelt Representation and Authenticity Make It Special

The cast and crew of Sinners are celebrating a significant milestone as the film received a record-breaking 16 Oscar nominations announced on Thursday morning. This achievement marks Sinners as the most nominated film in Oscar history. Wunmi Mosaku has been recognized with her first Oscar nomination for Best Supporting Actress for her portrayal of Annie, a Hoodoo priestess who helps her friends and family guard against the threats posed by lurking vampires.

Mosaku also acknowledged the film’s nomination for Best Original Song with “I Lied To You,” as well as the introduction of a new casting category. “Listen, I think Two Michael B. Jordan’s is never a bad thing. I think the music and Miles [Caton]’s voice, and the ensemble, not just the cast but also the creators, is just lovely. You know how people say you should cook with love? This film was made with so much love, and I think people can really feel that,” she remarked. “This is the closest I’ve ever been to a cast and crew in my whole career. We poured everything we had into this. And I’m just so grateful that it’s not been taken in vain, and there’s something really special about this because we came with honor and reverence to the work and Ryan and his artistry. It felt magical every single day, and it translated to the screen.”

Reflecting on her experience playing Annie, Mosaku emphasized the deep cultural research she conducted in the American South, where she consulted with Hoodoo practitioners while also connecting with her British Nigerian and Yoruba roots. She described the journey as a transformative experience, especially considering she had not anticipated receiving an Oscar nomination. “I say this with all sincerity. I have never thought about award season when taking a role. But I just knew from the people I met on that journey that the role would change me,” she said. “From the moment I met Ryan, and we had our first conversation on Zoom, I was like, even if I don’t get this role, this hour and a half I spent talking to him, I feel changed. And I just felt from the get-go that this was going to be a moment of change for me personally. Everything about filming has just felt magical; every weekend on that set in New Orleans felt magical. When I met those women [consultants], it felt affirming that I would learn a lot about myself, my culture, my history, and my purpose. I wanted to be initiated and learn everything I possibly could. I wanted to embrace everything that Annie was because she was so inspirational.”