Oscar hopeful Wunmi Mosaku says she'd return to the UK, but only on her own terms.
The 39-year-old Manchester-born actress has been making waves in Hollywood with her critically-acclaimed performance as Annie in Ryan Coogler's Sinners. The vampire thriller, set in the American deep south of the 1930s, has catapulted Mosaku into a new strata of stardom, with many predicting she'll take home the Oscar for Best Supporting Female.
But despite all the attention, Mosaku says she'd only consider returning to her homeland if she can avoid playing stereotypical characters. "I never want to be typecast as a cop or any other character that's just a token of a certain community," she explained in an interview from London.
Growing up in Manchester, Mosaku was surrounded by a vibrant cultural scene, but her parents were discouraged from teaching their children the Yoruba language because it would give them "funny accents." This experience has left a deep scar, with Mosaku feeling disconnected from her own culture. "That's the stuff that's really important," she said, becoming noticeably moved. "You don't appreciate the cost to people, the tax on a person's spirit in order to assimilate into your country – and for what? It's superiority. It's ego. It's brutal."
For Mosaku, playing immigrant characters has become a recurring theme throughout her career. She believes that these roles often come with a steep price: people are asked to cut off parts of their own culture to "fit in." This is a message she hopes to convey through her work.
As she settles into her hotel room in London, Mosaku's thoughts turn to Greggs, the beloved high-street bakery. She raves about the regional delicacies available at each store, from the Tottenham cake in London to the scouse pie in Liverpool. For Mosaku, these treats are a symbol of community and heritage.
Despite all the attention surrounding Sinners, Mosaku says she's manically zig-zagging the Atlantic, juggling her US commitments with UK work. Ahead of her are roles in Apple's This Is How It Goes, alongside Idris Elba, and Aaron Sorkin's The Social Reckoning. If she does decide to return to the UK, Greggs will be waiting – but on her own terms.
"I never take my eye off the UK for work," Mosaku adds, "artistically, I do feel like the work in America has been more satiating." But for now, she's content with being a part of the Sinners phenomenon, one that has finally brought attention to her craft. As she prepares for her next role, Mosaku is determined to stay true to herself and her heritage – even if it means taking on challenges that others might shy away from.
"I'd come back to the UK," she says with a smile, "but I'm not playing a cop."
The 39-year-old Manchester-born actress has been making waves in Hollywood with her critically-acclaimed performance as Annie in Ryan Coogler's Sinners. The vampire thriller, set in the American deep south of the 1930s, has catapulted Mosaku into a new strata of stardom, with many predicting she'll take home the Oscar for Best Supporting Female.
But despite all the attention, Mosaku says she'd only consider returning to her homeland if she can avoid playing stereotypical characters. "I never want to be typecast as a cop or any other character that's just a token of a certain community," she explained in an interview from London.
Growing up in Manchester, Mosaku was surrounded by a vibrant cultural scene, but her parents were discouraged from teaching their children the Yoruba language because it would give them "funny accents." This experience has left a deep scar, with Mosaku feeling disconnected from her own culture. "That's the stuff that's really important," she said, becoming noticeably moved. "You don't appreciate the cost to people, the tax on a person's spirit in order to assimilate into your country – and for what? It's superiority. It's ego. It's brutal."
For Mosaku, playing immigrant characters has become a recurring theme throughout her career. She believes that these roles often come with a steep price: people are asked to cut off parts of their own culture to "fit in." This is a message she hopes to convey through her work.
As she settles into her hotel room in London, Mosaku's thoughts turn to Greggs, the beloved high-street bakery. She raves about the regional delicacies available at each store, from the Tottenham cake in London to the scouse pie in Liverpool. For Mosaku, these treats are a symbol of community and heritage.
Despite all the attention surrounding Sinners, Mosaku says she's manically zig-zagging the Atlantic, juggling her US commitments with UK work. Ahead of her are roles in Apple's This Is How It Goes, alongside Idris Elba, and Aaron Sorkin's The Social Reckoning. If she does decide to return to the UK, Greggs will be waiting – but on her own terms.
"I never take my eye off the UK for work," Mosaku adds, "artistically, I do feel like the work in America has been more satiating." But for now, she's content with being a part of the Sinners phenomenon, one that has finally brought attention to her craft. As she prepares for her next role, Mosaku is determined to stay true to herself and her heritage – even if it means taking on challenges that others might shy away from.
"I'd come back to the UK," she says with a smile, "but I'm not playing a cop."
Mosaku's comments about being typecast as an immigrant character really resonates with me. It's like, we need more diverse roles that don't just tokenize cultures but also give voice to the complexities of identity #RepresentationMatters #DiversityInAction 
I mean, who doesn't love a good Greggs cake? But seriously, it's refreshing to see an actor like Mosaku speaking out on this issue and advocating for herself and her heritage. Let's hope more UK-based roles come along that give women of color opportunities to shine without relying on stereotypes #GirlPower #UKFilmScene 
. But Wunmi's words really resonated with me - it's crazy that people have to choose between their cultural identity and success in the entertainment industry. She's been through something tough, losing her language and culture at a young age because of societal pressure.
I'm definitely going to have to try those regional delicacies when they come to my city!
The fact is Wunmi Mosaku is looking out for herself! She's been through some tough stuff growing up in Manchester, where her parents were discouraged from teaching their kids the Yoruba language because of accents. That's gotta leave a mark, you know? 
It's cool that she's speaking out about how playing immigrant characters can feel like a big deal. For her, it's not just about doing the job, but being true to herself and her heritage. 
And let's be real, who wouldn't want some Greggs in their life? 
The fact is, she's got some amazing roles coming up and we can't wait to see what she does next! 
she's such an inspiration!!! i love how she's speaking her mind about representation in media and wanting to avoid typecasting 
it's like, she's not only fighting for herself but also for all those people who are struggling with their own identity 
and can we pls talk about greggs tho?!? 
those regional delicacies are everything 
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. But sometimes you just gotta own your complexities and not beat yourself up over them, you know? 
I mean, the guy can eat his weight in sausage rolls and still manage to come out with some poignant commentary on identity. Maybe we can learn from him 
.
, and omg can't believe wunmi mosaku is talking truth 
. i mean, who hasn't been in a situation where they felt pressured to cut off parts of their culture to fit in? 
? like, who doesn't love a good scouse pie or tooting cake? 
it's amazing how something as simple as food can bring people together and make us feel connected to our roots 
. mosaku's message is so important, especially for artists of color who are often expected to represent their communities in a way that feels authentic and respectful 
, and i know platform will be here supporting her every step of the way 
. let's keep celebrating creators like wunmi mosaku who are unafraid to speak their truth and share their talents with the world 
I'm glad she's speaking out about this and using her platform to spread awareness.
. Like, I totally get it, we've all been there where we're asked to choose between our culture and our identity... or in her case, assimilate into a new country. It's so heartbreaking that she had to experience this as a kid. 
. Also, I love how she's obsessed with Greggs 