Wunmi Mosaku wasn’t held back by family or cultural tradition when she decided to pursue an acting career. “I had a Nigerian mom who believed in me going off to drama school when most parents were like, absolutely not, go do math and economics. My mom, she let me be free and take the risk.”
It’s paid off as she celebrates her first Oscar nomination. She received recognition in the Performance for Actress in a Supporting Role category for her portrayal of Annie, the Hoodoo priestess and healer in Sinners. Playing her has had a profound effect on the actress.
“She has meant so much to me and changed me on such a vibrational level. I feel this connection to my ancestry because of her; her actual visceral connection to her ancestors and who she’s from and where she’s from, and the power and the strength and the spirituality and where she’s going, and her purpose.” Mosaku shared.
Embodying Annie has helped Mosaku grow as a woman, a partner, and a mother.
“Her sense of self and power and authority and love and her capacity of love, that’s something that really brought me back to who I am, where I’m from, and where I’m going. It feels really beautiful for it to be Annie that I’m nominated for, because this is the part has been so instrumental to me as a member of society and the diaspora.”
Mosaku’s husband, talent agent Tash Moseley, also rounds out her support system. They are expecting their second child later this year.
“When I met my husband, my mind and heart opened up in such a way — I have to give him props too,” she shared. It was her husband who delivered the news of her nomination.
“Embarrassingly, I was still in bed,” she confessed. “My husband came in on the phone and said, ‘You’ve just been nominated for an Oscar for me.’ I was like, that’s at 8:30? He said,’ Yes, Eastern time.”
Mosaku is grateful for the time zone mix-up. “I’m so glad I was asleep because I was trying to keep the date regular. I was too scared to make a recording of it, for my reaction if I don’t get a nomination and my reaction if I do.”
Being pregnant during awards season has made the season even more of an emotional rollercoaster. “I feel like I have very much been pulled in every single direction and not been as level as I usually am about these things.”
For a woman who’s dreamt of being at the Oscars one day, it’s worth the ride. Especially if she can find the right shoe for the occasion.
“After the Golden Globes, I was at the physical therapist —My feet are swollen by noon,” But she’s not about to let that slow her down.
“I don’t plan on missing my first Oscar awards ceremony,” she declared. “I don’t even need any more height, just beautiful flats.”