Over the past few weeks, Wunmi Mosaku has emerged as one of the most talked-about actors, particularly for her powerful role in Ryan Coogler’s Sinners. The movie tells the story of twin brothers, Smoke and Stack, played by Michael B. Jordan, who return to Mississippi to start a jukebox club but encounter dark forces. In Sinners, Mosaku plays Annie, a Hoodoo practitioner and herbalist who serves as the community’s spiritual guide and Smoke’s lover. While speaking about the role with OkayAfrica, she revealed that it made her feel deeply connected to her African roots, enhancing the authenticity and relatability of her performance for West African audiences and anyone interested in Hoodoo or Voodoo. For some, this might be their first time seeing Mosaku on screen, but she has been a consistent presence in the industry for quite some time.

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Breakthrough Performances and Industry Recognition

Mosaku’s rise to fame has been anything but overnight. Inspired by Albert Finney, renowned for his roles in classics like Annie, Murder on the Orient Express, Saturday Night and Sunday Morning, The Dresser, and A Man of No Importance, she studied acting at the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art. After graduating, she made her professional stage debut at the Arcola Theatre in a production of The Great Theatre of the World. For her screen debut, she appeared in Phil Warkins’ The Women of Troy. As she continued to take on more roles, recognition began to grow, culminating in her winning Best Actress at the Birmingham Black Film Festival, Best Onscreen Performance at the Cultural Diversity Awards, and Best Female Performance at the Screen Nation Awards—all for her role as Malia, a Sudanese girl sold into slavery, in the film I Am Slave.

Her other notable screen appearances include Vera, Capital, Playtest (an episode of the anthology series Black Mirror), Loki, Deadpool & Wolverine, His House, Lovecraft Country, Sweetness in the Belly, Luther, and Damilola, Our Beloved Boy — for which she won the BAFTA TV Award for Best Supporting Actress, making her the second Black woman to win a BAFTA in the history of the award. Her portrayal of the characters in all these roles demonstrates how deeply she immerses herself in each one. When she appears in the final scene of Deadpool & Wolverine, a commanding aura of authority radiates from her, capturing the attention of everyone around — even the ever-unserious Deadpool immediately pays attention to her.

Throughout her career, whether in major or minor roles, she has consistently commanded attention. Her bold and authentic portrayals have been recognized as the spark that captivates audiences. In the Netflix series The End of the F*ing World, where she played Officer Teri, a no-nonsense police officer tasked with tracking down two teenagers, she brilliantly embodies the demeanor of an unlikable character, disliked not for wrongdoing, but for her straightforward perspective, which often clashes with those of other characters. Her ability to remain steadfast in her convictions and committed to doing what is right, even when unpopular, makes her character compelling. This adds depth to the narrative, offering audiences a figure who is both predictably principled and refreshingly unconventional—qualities that Mosaku portrays with effortless precision.

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Exploring Mosaku's Previous Roles in Horror

Her role in Sinners isn’t her first venture into horror; she also starred in His House, a film about a refugee couple from Sudan who flee their war-torn country only to discover an evil presence lurking in their new home. Her motivation for taking these roles is to champion inclusivity for women across sexual orientation, gender, and physical or mental ability. She told Times Now, “It is important that everyone is represented, and it can’t be that only a certain type of woman is seen as a love interest in films. I just feel like everybody deserves to see themselves loved, challenged, and accepted—as a hero and as a villain. I want to see all of us represented.”

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It’s a conviction she reiterates in another interview with Inverse, where she spoke about the need for the experiences of Black people to be portrayed in sci-fi, supernatural thrillers, and other genres of film. Unlike her role in His House, where she is fighting an unknown force, her character in Annie knows the spirit that seeks to destroy her community. Having already garnered critical acclaim for her diverse roles, Mosaku's latest portrayal of Annie in Sinners takes her career to new heights.

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Embodying Annie

In preparation for her role as Annie, she met with real-life Hoodoo priestesses who helped her understand their community and initiation rites, thereby equipping her with the knowledge to deliver an unforgettable performance. By combining the intricacies of her identity as an African woman with her experience starring in thrillers and horror films, Annie emerges as a well-rounded character. She understands that she is prey, recognizes the evil that haunts her community, and is willing to fight for her life—all while staying connected to her lover and grieving the death of their child.

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Additionally, the way Mosaku moves between different emotional states as Annie is commendable. She seamlessly shifts between mother, lover, healer, and spiritual guide and protector. She brings sorrow, love, and spirituality to the role, ultimately enriching the film's emotional texture.

"This character reminded me of where I am from, my duty and purpose in this lineage, and where it might go,” Mosaku reflects on her deep connection with her role as Annie. "It’s amazing how you can find a piece of yourself in this strange, fictional character, but it feels so real and tangible.” With every role she takes, it becomes increasingly clear that she is a dedicated actress who brings characters to life with intention and a lifelong commitment to her craft.

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Part of the New Era of African Actors

Her inclusion in Sinners also signifies the rising excellence of actors of African descent in Hollywood. From Damson Idris’s enigmatic role in Snowfall, to John Boyega’s memorable performance in They Cloned Tyrone, and Ayo Edebiri’s stirring performance in The Bear, now to Mosaku’s role in Sinners—it is evident that African talents are being recognised, and that a path is being forged, with a reputation steadily built, for future generations of actors of African descent to be represented in ground-breaking films and series.

Her acting chops aren't the only thing drawing attention these days; her fashion choices have also caught the eye of fashion enthusiasts, who have praised her red carpet appearances. Her bold and elegant choices are intriguing and ultimately serve as a glimpse into her stylistic approach for future award seasons and red carpet events. As she continues to make her mark in Sinners, it is clear that her journey in Hollywood still continues.

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