Wunmi Mosaku returns to the UK for a new project but with a warning: she's not here to play a cop. The 39-year-old actress, who's currently in the middle of an awards season push for Ryan Coogler's vampire thriller Sinners, has made it clear that her role as Annie, a Hoodoo priestess, is anything but a stereotypical one.
When asked about the UK and whether she'll return to the country for work, Mosaku quickly responds: "A lot of people make me excited about working in the UK... I never take my eye off the UK for work." However, when pressed on playing a police officer – a role she's had in the past – she makes it clear that this won't be happening anytime soon.
"I'm not playing a cop," Mosaku says with a laugh. "I want to do something different, something that challenges me and allows me to grow as an artist." And judging by her performance in Sinners, she's already done just that. The film, set in the American deep south of the 1930s, stars Michael B Jordan and Mosaku brings a depth and nuance to her character that's hard to ignore.
As we chat, it becomes clear that Mosaku is more than happy to talk about Sinners – but only after discussing her journey as an actress and the importance of representation. She recalls playing immigrants throughout her career, highlighting the toll it takes on people when they're asked to cut off parts of their culture to "fit in".
"That's the stuff that's really important," she says, becoming visibly moved. "You don't appreciate the cost to people... It's a cultural genocide." Her words are a powerful reminder of the importance of representation and diversity in the film industry.
When it comes to her own background, Mosaku opens up about growing up in Manchester, where her parents discouraged her from learning Yoruba because it would give her "funny accents". The experience has had a lasting impact on her, and she credits studying Hoodoo as part of her journey to reconnect with her roots.
For Mosaku, Sinners is more than just another project – it's an opportunity to explore the complexities of identity and culture. And judging by her performance, it's clear that she's already making waves in Hollywood. With a slew of upcoming roles, including parts in Apple's This Is How It Goes and Aaron Sorkin's The Social Reckoning, Mosaku is set to take on even more challenging work.
So will she return to the UK for Sinners? Only time will tell, but one thing's certain: Wunmi Mosaku is an actress who won't be playing it safe anytime soon.
When asked about the UK and whether she'll return to the country for work, Mosaku quickly responds: "A lot of people make me excited about working in the UK... I never take my eye off the UK for work." However, when pressed on playing a police officer – a role she's had in the past – she makes it clear that this won't be happening anytime soon.
"I'm not playing a cop," Mosaku says with a laugh. "I want to do something different, something that challenges me and allows me to grow as an artist." And judging by her performance in Sinners, she's already done just that. The film, set in the American deep south of the 1930s, stars Michael B Jordan and Mosaku brings a depth and nuance to her character that's hard to ignore.
As we chat, it becomes clear that Mosaku is more than happy to talk about Sinners – but only after discussing her journey as an actress and the importance of representation. She recalls playing immigrants throughout her career, highlighting the toll it takes on people when they're asked to cut off parts of their culture to "fit in".
"That's the stuff that's really important," she says, becoming visibly moved. "You don't appreciate the cost to people... It's a cultural genocide." Her words are a powerful reminder of the importance of representation and diversity in the film industry.
When it comes to her own background, Mosaku opens up about growing up in Manchester, where her parents discouraged her from learning Yoruba because it would give her "funny accents". The experience has had a lasting impact on her, and she credits studying Hoodoo as part of her journey to reconnect with her roots.
For Mosaku, Sinners is more than just another project – it's an opportunity to explore the complexities of identity and culture. And judging by her performance, it's clear that she's already making waves in Hollywood. With a slew of upcoming roles, including parts in Apple's This Is How It Goes and Aaron Sorkin's The Social Reckoning, Mosaku is set to take on even more challenging work.
So will she return to the UK for Sinners? Only time will tell, but one thing's certain: Wunmi Mosaku is an actress who won't be playing it safe anytime soon.