Wunmi Mosaku, the Nigerian‑British actress turning heads in Hollywood, steps into a new realm with her powerful performance in Ryan Coogler’s critically acclaimed vampire thriller Sinners. As Hoodoo priestess Annie, Mosaku anchors the film’s emotional gravity, delivering a performance described by Vogue as the “spiritual and emotional anchor” of Coogler’s visually sumptuous story .
At just 38, she has already claimed a BAFTA and graced major screen roles, but Sinners marks her most profound entry into leading‑lady territory. Mosaku, born in Zaria, Nigeria and trained at the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art, brings both ancestral resonance and understated intensity to the role .
Her portrayal of Annie is steeped in ancestral ritual. Immersing herself in Hoodoo traditions, rooted in Yoruba spirituality, she embraced extensive research with consultants in New Orleans . In an interview with Vogue, Mosaku confessed that portraying Annie reconnected her with ancestral beliefs, offering a profound emotional uplift .
The film, a rare melding of horror, romance, and cultural commentary, made waves beyond genre expectations. It surpassed $200 million at the US box office, proving its sweeping audience reach. Critics praised Coogler’s direction and singled out Mosaku’s presence as the production’s beating heart . Rotten Tomatoes lists a 97% approval rating, underscoring the film’s broad acclaim .
Annie’s relationship with Michael B. Jordan’s twin character Smoke offers the story its emotional spine. Mosaku’s portrayal is defined by a deep chemistry and heartfelt depth, conveying life, loss, and resilience . The pivotal surreal montage sequences, described by critics as cinematic revelations—are elevated by her grounded yet magnetic performance.
Off-screen, Mosaku credits Coogler’s collaborative style for allowing her creative voice to flourish. She spoke with W Magazine of the film as an extension of the set’s energy, emphasising a culture of mutual respect . Her journey to embody a Hoodoo priestess involved deep cultural excavation, illuminating how ancient Yoruba faith endures in unexpected modern forms .
From stage roles to breakout performances in His House, Luther, Lovecraft Country, and Deadpool & Wolverine, Mosaku has steadily built a career of depth and resilience . But Sinners may be her defining moment, a film that not only proves genre films can be richly layered, but also stands as a bold, culturally-rooted piece of storytelling.
In Sinners, Mosaku doesn’t merely play Annie, she becomes her. This is not genre acting; this is reclamation. It’s a story of love surviving across realms, the power of ancestral memory, and the enduring spirit of Black culture. As audiences and critics note, Wunmi Mosaku isn’t just part of Coogler’s vision, she is its beating heart.
