Wunmi Mosaku Details “Scary” Yet “Beautiful” Sinners Journey

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Wunmi Mosaku is feeling the love.

The actress, known for her role as Annie in the critically acclaimed film Sinners (which earned an impressive 16 Academy Award nominations), recently discussed her experience working on the film directed by Ryan Coogler.

She said at the Santa Barbara International Film Festival on February 8th that being involved with the film felt deeply meaningful. She expressed her passion for the work, saying she’d happily do it indefinitely, and described working with Ryan as a wonderful experience.

The 39-year-old actress, who is up for Best Supporting Actress at the 2026 Oscars, also praised her fellow actors Michael B. Jordan and Delroy Lindo.

It was a wonderful experience working with Delroy and Michael,” she said. “And to receive this kind of recognition is incredible – honestly, I feel like landing the role of Annie was already a dream come true.”

Taking on the role of a spiritual healer in a movie set during the Jim Crow era required the British-Nigerian actress to draw upon deep emotional reserves for her compelling performance.

Playing the role of Annie was a deeply personal experience for Wunmi. She shared that it forced her to confront her own internal biases and insecurities, things she hadn’t fully realized she was carrying. To truly portray Annie, she had to overcome those doubts and embrace her own strength and identity as a woman.

She explained that playing the character was initially intimidating, but ultimately incredibly rewarding. Once she fully stepped into the role, she found the character to be beautiful – someone strong, confident, caring, and deeply connected to herself. It was a difficult experience, but the best kind of challenge.

Despite the intricate nature of her character, Annie, Wunmi—who is expecting her second child with her husband, Tash Moseley—embraces every acting opportunity as a positive challenge.

She explained that she views acting as a form of therapy, because it forces you to face and deal with personal issues.

As for how she’s dealing with the overwhelming amount of feedback on the film?

I don’t normally pay attention to comments or reviews, but I made an exception this time. We received so much positive feedback from fans that it really overwhelmed us, and I wanted to see what people were saying.

But Wunmi isn’t the only first-time nominee at the 2026 Oscars. For more, read on…

Reporting by Daryn Carp

Michael B. Jordan gave a stunning performance as both of the Smokestack twins in Ryan Coogler’s film, Sinners—their fifth project together—and earned his first Best Actor Oscar nomination as a result.

The actor, 38, told TopMob News at the Critics Choice Awards that he loves playing both Smoke and Stack equally. He explained that both characters will stay with him forever and he feels honored to have had the chance to portray them.

Along with Jordan, veteran actor Lindo is also being praised for his skilled portrayal of the insightful Delta Slim in Coogler’s impressive film.

He’s known for his work in acclaimed films like Spike Lee’s Malcolm X (1992) and Da 5 Bloods (2020), the latter of which earned him significant awards attention. Beyond acting, he also completed a research project focusing on the history of people of African descent in the United Kingdom.

Oh my gosh, you wouldn’t BELIEVE how excited Keith David was to play this role in Sinners! He told The Ankler that when he first read the script, it just grabbed him. He actually felt like his character faded a bit in the middle, which worried him, but he was SO relieved to tell Ryan Coogler that they’d really beefed up his part! He said he’s way more involved now than he was in that very first draft, and honestly, thank goodness! It just wouldn’t be the same if he wasn’t fully present. I’m SO glad they listened to him!

Layo Mosaku, a British actress originally from Nigeria, gained recognition for her role as Annie, a spiritual healer in the film Sinners and the ex-wife of a key character. She says that if she hadn’t pursued acting at the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art, her life would have taken a completely different path, as she shared in a 2021 interview with Schon Magazine.

Instead, at age 39, she won a 2016 BAFTA for the TV film Damilola, Our Loved Boy and then moved to the United States. There, she landed parts in popular shows like Luther, Lovecraft Country, and Loki.

She remembered being nervous before her first audition with Michael B. Jordan. She told W magazine it felt like, ‘This is a really intimidating person!’ But it turned out to be surprisingly comfortable. She said there was instant mutual respect, and they worked well together. To her amazement, she was offered the role right there in the audition room.

Many North American viewers will recognize the Oscar nominee from his Golden Globe-nominated role as Pablo Escobar in the Netflix series Narcos. However, he’s a huge star in Brazil, making his part in The Secret Agent particularly meaningful. The film features him as Armando, a widowed professor who must abandon his old life because he opposes the country’s military dictatorship in the 1970s.

Actor Wagner Moura explained to the Los Angeles Times that he tends to react strongly to injustice, and that often comes through in his roles. He also highlighted that his latest film isn’t about revolution; it’s about an ordinary person who simply stays true to himself and his beliefs.

This year, the 49-year-old father of three has already won a Golden Globe for Best Actor in a dramatic film and is also up for an Actor Award.

As a lifestyle enthusiast, I’ve always admired Stellan Skarsgård’s incredible range – from the heartwarming Good Will Hunting to the fun of Mamma Mia!, the blockbuster action of Thor and Dune, the intensity of The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo and Chernobyl, and even his compelling work in Andor. Plus, let’s not forget those fascinating, darker indie films he did with Lars Von Trier! It was surprising to me, and many others, that despite such a fantastic career, he hadn’t yet received an Oscar nomination… until now! It’s wonderful to see his talent finally get that recognition.

At 74, actor Stellan Skarsgård has been happily surprised by the praise he’s receiving for his role in Joachim Trier’s Sentimental Value. He plays Gustav Borg, a well-respected director who decides to document his family life after his ex-wife passes away, a project that upsets his distant daughters.

Considering he’s a father of eight and hadn’t expected to return to acting after a stroke three years prior caused memory problems, this role is particularly special. He cleverly found a way to perform by receiving his lines through an earpiece, ultimately landing what he considers the best role of his career.

“It’s impossible to predict how a movie will be received,” said Alexander Skarsgård, who won a 2026 Golden Globe for his supporting role. He told the LA Times that this film, however, seems to have connected with people of all ages and backgrounds. “It’s clearly resonated with audiences,” he explained, “and it’s amazing because, despite dealing with serious themes, it feels surprisingly lighthearted – like a delicate soufflé with a hint of darkness.”

Sentimental Value marks the third time actress Renate Reinsve has worked with director Joachim Trier, following her debut film, Oslo, August 31st (2011), and their acclaimed 2021 film, The Worst Person in the World.

At 38, the actress has earned her first Oscar nomination for Best Actress by playing Nora, a successful TV and stage performer who is reluctant to work on a film directed by her estranged father and pushes back against his efforts to make amends.

The Norwegian actress deeply appreciates Trier’s guidance, which has helped her develop as a performer, and praises his ability to foster a supportive and creative atmosphere for his actors.

Reinsve explained to Deadline that her performance won’t be defined by her individual approach to the role, but rather by the collaboration with everyone on set. It’s not about a single performance, but what the entire team creates together, scene by scene and throughout the film. This takes the pressure off, because the focus shifts from individual contribution to the shared experience and what emerges from the interactions between the actors and crew.

Oh my gosh, you guys, did you see her? The incredible Norwegian actress—I’m completely obsessed!—she was nominated for Best Supporting Actress for playing Agnes, and honestly, it was the perfect role for her. Agnes is this amazing historian, and she’s Gustav’s daughter, but so much more reserved and level-headed. The actress said she really felt a connection to Agnes, and I totally get it! She became her, you know? It was just… breathtaking.

The 36-year-old, who shares a son with her husband, actor Gunnar Eiriksson, explained to Deadline that she strongly relates to the character of Agnes. ‘I have a sister and a brother, and I understand the deep love and worry you feel for family,’ she said. ‘I also know how important it is to have a family that functions well.’

Fanning confessed she would have accepted even a small role directed by Joachim Trier, revealing her admiration for his work in The Worst Person in the World. Ultimately, she was cast as Rachel, the American actress who takes the part that Nora, played by Renate Reinsve, rejects in the film.

This Academy Award nomination for Best Supporting Actress follows previous nominations from the Critics Choice Awards and Golden Globes, and was earned after what she described as a perfect filming experience.

I could really relate to my character because, like her, I was visiting Norway for the very first time,” the 27-year-old actress explained to W magazine. “It was a complex experience, but I absolutely loved it. Norway is so clean, and it was great to see everyone getting around by bike. It felt like a comfortable place for me.

Oh my gosh, you guys, it’s just… everything! The actress who won the Golden Globe, she described If I Had Legs I’d Kick You – seriously, the title alone! – as having humor, actual horror, and this feeling of pure fear. She said it’s brutally honest and deals with some seriously tough stuff, like a mom dealing with a sick kid and just one disaster after another. I’m obsessed, honestly. It sounds…intense, and exactly what I need to watch right now!

Playing Linda was both intimidating and incredibly exciting, and I honestly didn’t know how to approach the role,” Byrne, who has two children with Bobby Cannavale, shared. “It was a massive creative challenge, but also a fantastic opportunity. I was buzzing with energy while filming, and afterwards, I felt completely out of it. I was actually afraid to watch the finished movie and kept putting it off. When I finally did, I was completely lost for words.

The Academy had something to say, however, and now Byrne, 46, is an Oscar nominee for Best Actress.

While Jacob Elordi used 42 prosthetic pieces to become Frankenstein’s Creature, the emotional depth and sadness in his performance come entirely from his own acting ability.

This earned the 28-year-old his first Academy Award nomination for Best Supporting Actor, after a surprising win at the Critics Choice Awards and nominations from the Golden Globes and the Screen Actors Guild.

To truly embody a role, you have to disconnect from your own life,” Elordi explained to Netflix’s Tudum. “It’s about shutting out distractions and changing your perspective on everything – even basic things like eating or showering. You need to create a new routine and mindset to fully transform into the character.

All’s fair in love and war.

Though not all her roles are critically acclaimed, Taylor’s performance as the passionate and ultimately disgraced Perfidia Beverly Hills earned her significant awards attention. This includes a Golden Globe win and her first Oscar nomination for Best Supporting Actress.

Many current films feel distant and hard to connect with, the 35-year-old explained to the LA Times. But Paul Thomas Anderson’s characters are wonderfully imperfect, deeply human, and authentic, leaving you thinking, ‘Wow, have I been through that?’ That’s the impact a movie should have – it should be thought-provoking and spark important, even difficult, conversations. It should really make you think and talk things through.

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2026-02-10 01:18