Wunmi Mosaku, also know as Oluwunmi Mosaku is a Nigerian-born British actress, born on July 31, 1986, gained recognition for portraying Joy in BBC Two’s Moses Jones and Holly Lawson in ITV’s Vera. She received a BAFTA TV Award for Best Supporting Actress for her performance in Damilola, Our Loved Boy in 2016. Mosaku also appeared in Luther’s fifth season. In 2020, she starred in HBO’s Lovecraft Country and in 2021, joined the Marvel Cinematic Universe as Hunter B-15 in the TV series Loki, later reprising the role in the film Deadpool & Wolverine in 2024.
Profile Summary
Full Name: | Oluwunmi Mosaku |
Date Of Birth: | July 31, 1986 |
Place Of Birth: | Zaria, Kaduna, Nigeria |
Nationality: | Nigerian-British |
Parents: | Irene Mosaku |
Occupation(s): | Actress, Model |
Net Worth: | $6 Million |
Early Life And Education
Wunmi Mosaku was born on July 31, 1986, in Zaria, Nigeria, and moved to Manchester, England at just one year old.
She completed her education at Trinity Church of England High School and Xaverian Sixth Form College while also singing for over a decade with the Manchester Girls Choir.
Despite her parents being professors in Nigeria, they were unable to continue their careers in the UK. While her mother started a business, her father returned to Nigeria.
Mosaku pursued her passion for acting by studying at the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art, earning her BA in Acting Degree in 2007.
Career
Mosaku began her acting career with a debut on the professional stage in 2007 at the Arcola Theatre, performing in Pedro Calderón de la Barca’s The Great Theatre of the World.
She continued to make her mark in theater, appearing in various productions like Rough Crossings in 2008 at the Lyric Hammersmith and The Vertical Hour in 2010, as well as Truth and Reconciliation in 2011, both at the Royal Court Theatre.
Her talents also extended beyond the stage, as she participated in the UNDEREXPOSED exhibitions at the National Portrait Gallery in 2008, showcasing black role models in the British community. One of her photos was displayed on Commercial Way in Peckham, London as part of the exhibition.
Mosaku’s acting skills were recognized in 2009 with her role in the BBC Two series Moses Jones, where she received the Best Actress in a Miniseries award at the Rome Fiction Festival.
Wunmi Mosaku, a talented actress known for her diverse roles, has been recognized in various publications and award ceremonies for her outstanding performances.
She was featured on the cover of Screen International magazine as one of the UK Stars of Tomorrow in 2009 and was also highlighted in Nylon Magazine’s Young Hollywood issue in 2011.
In 2010, Mosaku was named one of The Seven Fresh Faces of Toronto International Film Festival for her role in “I Am Slave,” where she played Malia, a girl abducted from her village in Sudan and sold into slavery.
Her portrayal earned her accolades such as Best Actress at the Birmingham Black Film Festival and Best Female Performance at the Screen Nation Awards.
Mosaku’s talent shone through in various projects, including her role as Holly Lawson in “Vera,” Quentina in the BBC series “Capital,” and her appearance in the Black Mirror episode “Playtest.”
She further solidified her acting prowess by winning the BAFTA TV Award for Best Supporting Actress in 2017 for her role as Gloria Taylor in “Damilola, Our Loved Boy.”
Personal Life And Role Models
Hollywood actress Wunmi Mosaku stunned her fans when she recently shared a photo of herself with her young daughter, revealing her motherhood for the first time.
The BAFTA award-winning star has always kept her personal life under wraps and managed to keep her pregnancy and motherhood a secret until now.
Known for her privacy, Mosaku has rarely spoken publicly about her family life or her relationship with her husband, who works in the entertainment industry behind the scenes.
The couple’s marriage remains a mystery, as the actress has chosen to keep her husband’s identity private. However, she did disclose during an interview that her husband played a significant role in her decision to relocate to Los Angeles.
Among her list of personal heroes, Mosaku pays tribute to her grandmother Anike Adisa, a figure she credits with imparting valuable life lessons.
She also draws inspiration from actor Albert Finney, whose example motivated her to pursue studies at the RADA. In addition, she holds her former RADA colleague and instructor, William Gaskill, in high regard.
Mosaku admires Paul Newman not only for his acting prowess but also for his charitable work with Newman’s Own. Lastly, she views Oprah Winfrey as a true superhero and role model.
Wunmi Mosaku Net Worth
Wunmi Mosaku’s estimated net worth is $6 million, a testament to the success and impact of her acting career.
Awards And Nominations
- 2009 Rome Fiction Festival – Best Actress in a Mini-series for Moses Jones – Won
- 2017 British Academy Television Awards – Best Supporting Actress for Damilola, Our Loved Boy – Won
- 2021 British Academy Film Awards – Best Actress in a Leading Role for His House – Nominated
- British Independent Film Awards – Best Performance by an Actress – Won
- Screen Actors Guild Awards – Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Drama Series for Lovecraft Country – Nominated
- Critics’ Choice Television Awards – Best Supporting Actress in a Drama Series
Filmography
Films
- The Women of Troy (2006)
- Honeymooner (2010)
- Womb (2010)
- I Am Slave (2010)
- Citadel (2011)
- Philomena (2013)
- Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice (2016)
- Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them (2016)
- Leading Lady Parts (2018) – Short film
- Sweetness in the Belly (2019)
- His House (2020)
Television
- Black Mirror (2016) – Episode: “Playtest”
- Damilola, Our Loved Boy (2016) – Miniseries
- Fearless (2017)
- The End of the F***ing World (2017) – 5 episodes
- Kiri (2018) – Miniseries
- Luther (2019) – 4 episodes
- Animal Babies: First Year on Earth – Docuseries
- Temple (2019) – Miniseries
- Lovecraft Country (2020) – 10 episodes
- Loki (2021–2023) – 11 episodes
- We Own This City (2022) – 6 episodes
- Black Mirror (2023) – Episode: “Joan Is Awful”
- Scavengers Reign (2023) – Azi (voice)
- Passenger (2024) – 6 episodes