Wunmi Mosaku has “not been able to celebrate” Oscar nomination due to ICE
Wunmi Mosaku has admitted that she has “not been able to celebrate” her Oscar nomination for Sinners due to the ongoing situation with ICE in the United States.
The actor has been nominated for ‘Best Supporting Actress’ for her role as Annie in the record-breaking horror smash hit Sinners, making up one of the history-making 16 nods which the film received at this year’s awards.
Despite this, Mosaku has revealed in an interview with the Sunday Times that she has felt unable to celebrate her huge accolade due to the stark presence of ICE in the US, where a number of civilians in Minnesota have been killed in recent weeks.
The actor, who has lived in Los Angeles with her husband and children since 2018, told the publication: “I’ve not been able to celebrate because of what’s going on right now, with the killings of Renee Good and Alex Pretti by ICE agents in Minnesota and the kidnapping of a five-year-old boy,” referring to the detainment and subsequent release of Liam Ramos last month.
She added: “It’s difficult to hold both the nomination and the news because one feels beautiful and one is so dark and heavy; truly dystopian — how can I possibly go out and buy some drinks and enjoy the moment?”
Mosaku compared her feelings to those of her husband, who is American, by explaining that he has not been as shocked by recent events in the country as she has been. “There’s a very strange American psyche where terrible things happen and people still can go to work the next day, whereas I’m floored for a week and think, ‘How are people going to crowded places when this has just happened?’” she continued.
“I want a cocoon. My reaction reminds him that this is not normal,” Mosaku said, before ultimately noting that the success of Sinners, both at the box office and among critics, has been a “beautiful surprise”.
Despite this, the actor stood by her decision to leave the UK and head to America for the benefit of her career, as “being in the US opened up a lot of different roles and routes for me.”
She added, “There were more characters to choose from there. Over here it felt like I just played police officers. I’m so tired of playing cops.”
Mosaku will find out if she will take home the Oscar at the ceremony on March 15th, where she is nominated in her category alongside Elle Fanning, Inga Ibsdotter Lilleaas, Amy Madigan, and Teyana Taylor.
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