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Wunmi Mosaku Struggles to Celebrate Oscar Nomination

Bintano News Desk
2/16/2026
Wunmi Mosaku Struggles to Celebrate Oscar Nomination

Sinners star Wunmi Mosaku has revealed that she has 'not been able to celebrate' her Oscar nomination due to the current political unrest in America. 

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The British actress, 39, who is based in LA, is competing for the Best Supporting Actress at the upcoming Academy Awards for her breakout role in the smash hit vampire movie. 

Pregnant with her second child, Wumni pointed to President Trump's anti-immigration policies and ICE's raids across the country.

She said: '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.

'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?'.

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Renee Good and Alex Pretti were both fatally shot by ICE agents, while Liam Conejo Ramos, five, was apprehended as he returned home from school.

Sinners star Wunmi Mosaku, 39, has revealed that she has 'not been able to celebrate' her Oscar nomination due to current political climate

Sinners star Wunmi Mosaku, 39, has revealed that she has 'not been able to celebrate' her Oscar nomination due to current political climate

The British actress who is based in the US, is competing for the Best Supporting Actress at the upcoming Academy Awards for her breakout role in the smash hit vampire movie

The British actress who is based in the US, is competing for the Best Supporting Actress at the upcoming Academy Awards for her breakout role in the smash hit vampire movie

Pregnant with her second child, Wumni pointed to Trump's anti-immigration policies with ICE raids across the country (ICE agents pictured in Minnesota)

Pregnant with her second child, Wumni pointed to Trump's anti-immigration policies with ICE raids across the country (ICE agents pictured in Minnesota) 

Born in Nigeria before moving with her family to Manchester as a child, she then headed to LA to pursue her acting career.

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The actress - whose husband is American - told The Sunday Times : '[It was] never part of my plan [to raise my children in the US]. I anticipate moving but I'm not sure where. 

'I'd love to live closer to nature, I don't know … In Tanzania? ... I'm not going to lie, it's hard to envision coming back [to Manchester] when you've been spoilt by the weather in LA. You get soft very quickly there.'

It comes after Trump ended his immigration crackdown in Minnesota following the fatal shootings of two Americans by federal agents. 

White House border czar Tom Homan announced the end of 'Operation Metro Surge' just weeks three weeks after the President deployed him to Minnesota to oversee the crackdown. Homan's deployment displaced Border Patrol Greg Bovino, an ally of Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem. 

Reene Good and Alex Pretti, were killed in January by immigration agents during the deportation operation. Polling suggests the killings were viewed unfavorably by voters, creating a potential political headache for the Trump administration as it heads into the midterm election.

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Trump's U-turn in Minneapolis marks a shocking turning point in his immigration enforcement. The President returned to power with what allies hailed as a clear electoral mandate after campaigning aggressively on mass deportations.

Now after negative media coverage and constant legal setbacks against Democratic state leaders, Trump's immigration agenda is more unpopular than ever. 

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'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'.

'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'.

Liam Conejo Ramos, five, was apprehended as he returned home from school (pictured)

Liam Conejo Ramos, five, was apprehended as he returned home from school (pictured) 

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ICE agents pictured in Minnesota

ICE agents pictured in Minnesota  

'We've seen a big change here in the last couple of weeks,' Homan said at a press conference in Minneapolis. 'I have proposed, and President Trump has concurred, that this surge operation conclude.'

'Twin Cities and Minnesota in general are and will continue to be much safer for the communities here because of what we have accomplished under President Trump's leadership.' 

Homan noted how local police and elected leaders have made deals with Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) to allow the agents to make arrests in jails. 

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Sinners stars Michael B. Jordan in a dual role as twin brothers with a criminal past who find themselves faced with a vampire menace in the Jim Crow South.

Showered with acclaim, the movie emerged as yet another box office success for the Black Panther director and has now landed him a spot in the Oscars pantheon.

Ryan Coogler's acclaimed horror movie Sinners has earned a staggering 16 Oscar nominations, the most of any movie in history

Ryan Coogler's acclaimed horror movie Sinners has earned a staggering 16 Oscar nominations, the most of any movie in history

Sinners is competing for prizes including best picture, as well as best director and best original screenplay for Coogler and best actor for Jordan - the latter in a category that pits him against Titanic's leading man Leonardo DiCaprio.

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Titanic maintains the record for the most Oscar wins at 11, in another three-way tie with Ben-Hur and The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King. 

Sinners has also put Delroy Lindo in the running for best supporting actor for his turn as pianist Delta Slim, while Wunmi Mosaku is up for best supporting actress as Annie, the estranged wife of one of the twins Jordan plays.

Sinners is also in contention for its cinematography, score, makeup and hairstyling, editing, production design, sound, visual effects, costume design and casting.

The movie's musical number I Lied to You, written by Ludwig Goransson and Raphael Saadiq and performed by Miles Caton, is nominated for best original song.

Best picture pits Sinners against Bugonia, F1, Frankenstein, Hamnet, Marty Supreme, One Battle After Another, The Secret Agent, Sentimental Value and Train Dream

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Oscar 2026 nominations in full

Best Picture

Bugonia

F1

Frankenstein

Hamnet

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Marty Supreme

One Battle After Another

The Secret Agent

Sentimental Value

Sinners

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Train Dreams

Sinners earned most Oscar nominations ever with 16 including Best Picture

Sinners earned most Oscar nominations ever with 16 including Best Picture

 

Best Actor

Timothee Chalamet - Marty Supreme

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Ethan Hawke - Blue Moon

Michael B. Jordan - Sinners

Wagner Moura - The Secret Agent

Timothee Chalamet was recognized for his work in Marty Supreme

Timothee Chalamet was recognized for his work in Marty Supreme

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Best Actress

Jessie Buckley - Hamnet

Rose Byrne - If I Had Legs I’d Kick You

Kate Hudson - Song Sung Blue

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Renate Reinsve - Sentimental Value

Emma Stone - Bugonia

 

Best Supporting Actor

Benicio del Toro - One Battle After Another

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Delroy Lindo - Sinners

Sean Penn - One Battle After Another

Stellan Skarsgard - Sentimental Value

 

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Best Supporting Actress

Elle Fanning - Sentimental Value

Inga Ibsdotter Lilleaas - Sentimental Value

Amy Madigan - Weapons

Wunmi Mosaku - Sinners

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Teyana Taylor - One Battle After Another

Amy Madigan was put forward in the Best Supporting Actress category for Weapons

Amy Madigan was put forward in the Best Supporting Actress category for Weapons

 

Best Director

Chloe Zhao - Hamnet

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Josh Safdie - Marty Supreme

Paul Thomas Anderson - One Battle After Another

Joachim Trier - Sentimental Value

Ryan Coogler - Sinners

 

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Best Original Screenplay

Robert Kaplow - Blue Moon

Jafar Panahi - It Was Just an Accident

Ronald Bronstein and Josh Safdie - Marty Supreme

Eskil Vogt and Joachim Trier - Sentimental Value

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Ryan Coogler - Sinners

Ryan Coogler was nominated in the Best Original Screenplay field for Sinners

Ryan Coogler was nominated in the Best Original Screenplay field for Sinners

 

Best Adapted Screenplay

Will Tracy - Bugonia

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Guillermo Del Toro - Frankenstein

Chloe Zhao and Maggie O'Farrell - Hamnet

Paul Thomas Anderson  - One Battle After Another

Clint Bentley and Greg Kwedar - Train Dreams

 

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Best Animated Feature Film

Arco

Elio

KPop Demon Hunters

Little Amelie or the Character of Rain

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Zootopia 2

 

Best International Feature Film

The Secret Agent (Brazil)

It Was Just an Accident (France)

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Sentimental Value (Norway)

Sirat (Spain)

The Voice of Hind Rajab (Tunisia)

Brazilian film The Secret Agent starring Wagner Moura is nominated for Best International Feature Film

Brazilian film The Secret Agent starring Wagner Moura is nominated for Best International Feature Film 

 

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Best Casting

Nina Gold - Hamnet

Jennifer Venditti - Marty Supreme

Cassandra Kulukundis - One Battle After Another

Gabriel Domingues - The Secret Agent

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Francine Maisler - Sinners

Best Cinematography

Dan Laustsen - Frankenstein

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Darius Khondji - Marty Supreme

Michael Bauman - One Battle After Another

Autumn Durald Arkapaw - Sinners

Adolpho Veloso - Train Dreams

One Battle After Another is up for Best Cinematography

One Battle After Another is up for Best Cinematography

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Best Production Design

Frankenstein

Hamnet

Marty Supreme

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One Battle After Another

Sinners

 

Best Editing

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F1

Marty Supreme

One Battle After Another

Sentimental Value

Sinners

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Best Original Score

Bugonia

Frankenstein

Hamnet

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One Battle After Another

Sinners

 

Best Original Song

Dear Me - Diane Warren: Relentless

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Golden - KPop Demon Hunters

I Lied to You - Sinners

Sweet Dreams of Joy - Viva Verdi!

Train Dreams - Train Dreams

Global hit KPop Demon Hunters received a Best Original Song nod for Golden

Global hit KPop Demon Hunters received a Best Original Song nod for Golden

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Best Sound

F1

Frankenstein

One Battle After Another

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Sinners

Sirat

 

Best Visual Effects

Avatar: Fire and Ash

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F1

Jurassic World: Rebirth

The Lost Bus

Sinners

Avatar: Fire and Ash earned a Best Visual Effects nomination

Avatar: Fire and Ash earned a Best Visual Effects nomination

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Best Makeup and Hairstyling

Frankenstein

Kokuho

Sinners

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The Smashing Machine

The Ugly Stepsister

 

Best Costume Design

Avatar: Fire and Ash

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Frankenstein

Hamnet

Marty Supreme

Sinners

Frankenstein earned a Best Costume Design nod

Frankenstein earned a Best Costume Design nod

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Best Animated Short Film

Butterfly

Forevergreen

The Girl Who Cried Pearls

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Retirement Plan

The Three Sisters

 

Best Live-Action Short Film

Butcher's Stain

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A Friend of Dorothy

Jane Austen's Period Drama

The Singers

Two People Exchanging Saliva

 

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Best Documentary Feature Film

The Alabama Solution

Come See Me in the Good Light

Cutting Through Rocks

Mr Nobody Against Putin

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The Perfect Neighbor

Mr Nobody Against Putin is up for best Documentary Feature Film

Mr Nobody Against Putin is up for best Documentary Feature Film

 

Best Documentary Short

All the Empty Rooms

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Armed Only with a Camera: The Life and Death of Brent Renaud

Children No More: Were and Are Gone

The Devil Is Busy

 

aggregated from the Daily Mail.

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