Bafta-winning actress Wunmi Mosaku has captured the Best Supporting Actress prize for her role as Hoodoo priestess Annie in the musical horror film Sinners, describing the experience as a rediscovery of parts of herself she “thought [she] had lost or tried to dim as an immigrant trying to fit in.”
At 39, Mosaku, who was born in Zaria and grew up in Manchester, made history as the first Black British winner of the supporting actress category at the BAFTA Film Awards.
A Role Rooted in Identity and Ancestry
Speaking at the winners’ press conference, Mosaku reflected on how portraying Annie helped her reconnect with her heritage. “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,” she said. She also highlighted the profound response from Black women who saw themselves represented on screen: “For me, seeing that response made me realise how lonely I felt, and all of a sudden these women were in my life who I'd never met. I felt a kinship to them.”
Her victory follows a previous win in the same category at the TV BAFTAs nine years ago for her role in the BBC drama Damilola, Our Loved Boy, which explored the tragic death of 10-year-old Damilola Taylor in London. Mosaku drew on her own experiences growing up on a Manchester estate, saying, “People I've known from school have died in gang trouble, and I always thought, ‘If I'd been on a different estate at a different time, it could have been me.’”
Balancing Career and Family
Mosaku, who is currently pregnant, expressed her astonishment at her BAFTA win: “I was like, 'That can't be right.' I was really shocked and I lost my breath and couldn't quite believe it.” She also paid tribute to her daughter, describing her as “my greatest teacher.”
Journey to the Stage and Screen
The actress credited a childhood fascination with the 1980s musical Annie as the spark that inspired her acting career. Her family initially questioned how she would achieve this ambition, prompting her to research the cast online. She discovered that Salford-born actor Albert Finney, who played Daddy Warbucks, trained at the prestigious Royal Academy of Dramatic Art (RADA) in London—an institution Mosaku would later audition for after a £3.50 Megabus journey.
Mosaku’s early artistic foundation included 11 years with the Manchester Girls Choir, an experience she describes as “one of my most precious memories.” She has since built a versatile career appearing in TV dramas such as Luther and Black Mirror, as well as in Marvel films.
Mosaku’s BAFTA win is not only a celebration of her exceptional talent but also a testament to the power of representation and cultural heritage in shaping authentic storytelling on screen.