Nigerian-born British actress Wunmi Mosaku has made history at the 2026 EE British Academy Film Awards, becoming the first Black British performer to win Best Supporting Actress in the film category.

The ceremony took place at London’s Royal Festival Hall, where she was honoured for her role as Annie, a Hoodoo priestess, in the musical horror film Sinners. The film’s director and writer, Ryan Coogler, also secured the award for Best Original Screenplay.

Mosaku, 39, who is expecting her second child, appeared visibly emotional as she accepted the award. She thanked her husband, family and daughter, later admitting she was stunned when her name was announced. Speaking at the winners’ press conference, she said she “lost her breath” and struggled to process the moment.

Born in Zaria, Nigeria, to academic parents, Mosaku moved to Manchester at the age of one. Reflecting on her performance in Sinners, she described the role as deeply personal, saying she rediscovered aspects of herself she had once felt compelled to soften while trying to integrate as an immigrant.

She explained that playing Annie helped her reconnect with a sense of ancestral strength and identity that resonated strongly with audiences, particularly Black women who said they felt seen and valued through the portrayal.

She said it felt meaningful to have her story and lived experience represented with authenticity and creativity, adding that the response from viewers created a sense of shared connection she had not anticipated.

Mosaku trained at the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art (RADA), having been inspired to pursue acting after discovering that Albert Finney had studied there. Determined to audition, she travelled to London by coach and secured a place at the prestigious institution. Before drama school, she spent 11 years singing with the Manchester Girls’ Choir, an experience she has described as formative and one of her most treasured early memories.

Her early breakthrough came in the 2010 drama I Am Slave. She later won a TV BAFTA for her role as Gloria Taylor in Damilola, Our Loved Boy, a BBC drama about the death of 10-year-old Damilola Taylor. The story resonated personally, as she has previously spoken about growing up on a Manchester estate and reflecting on how different circumstances might have shaped her own path.

Over the years, she has also appeared in major productions including Luther, Black Mirror, and Hollywood films such as Deadpool & Wolverine and Batman v Superman.

Following her latest win, Mosaku became emotional again while discussing Coogler’s screenplay award, praising his collaborative approach and emphasis on valuing every member of a production team. She described him as a filmmaker who creates from a sense of community rather than ego, ensuring that everyone involved understands their contribution matters.

For many within the Nigerian and wider African diaspora, Mosaku’s achievement represents more than an individual accolade. Her journey from Zaria to Manchester and ultimately to the BAFTA stage reflects the layered identity of many immigrant families — navigating belonging while preserving heritage. Her win signals not only professional excellence, but also the growing recognition of stories shaped by migration, ancestry and cultural depth.

As she continues to balance motherhood and a flourishing international career, Mosaku’s historic BAFTA victory stands as a defining milestone — both for British cinema and for diaspora representation on a global stage.