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Last updated on the 17 June 2025 by Maeve
Mini Biography
Born: July 31, 1986, Zaria, Nigeria.
Wunmi Mosaku was born to Yoruba parents who were both university professors. Her family relocated to Manchester, England, when she was young, settling in the diverse community of Chorlton in south Manchester. Growing up as a Nigerian immigrant in England, Wunmi Mosaku experienced the challenges of cultural adaptation and racism that would later inform her artistic perspective and advocacy work.
Her educational journey reflected her diverse interests and talents. Wunmi Mosaku attended Trinity Church of England High School in Hulme, Manchester, before continuing to Xaverian Sixth Form College. During her school years, she discovered her love for performance through music, singing with the Manchester Girls’ Choir for eleven years. This early musical training helped develop her stage presence and confidence. Inspired by her passion for acting, she pursued formal training at the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art, where she graduated in 2007 with a Bachelor of Arts in Acting.
Wunmi Mosaku’s professional career launched immediately after graduation with her stage debut in a production of Pedro Calderón de la Barca’s “The Great Theatre of the World” at the Arcola Theatre in 2007. Her breakthrough in British television came through acclaimed performances in series like “Luther” and “Vera,” but it was her portrayal in the BBC drama “Damilola, Our Beloved Boy” that truly established her as a formidable talent. This performance earned her the BAFTA TV Award for Best Supporting Actress in 2017, making her only the second Black woman to win a BAFTA in the award’s 62-year history.
The actress achieved international recognition with her dual starring roles in 2020, playing Ruby Baptiste in HBO’s supernatural horror series “Lovecraft Country” and Rial in the Netflix psychological horror film “His House.” Her performance in “His House” earned her a BAFTA Film Award nomination for Best Actress, cementing her status as one of Britain’s most compelling performers. More recently, she has continued to expand her reach in Hollywood with appearances in major productions including “Deadpool & Wolverine” and “Sinners.”
Despite her growing success, Wunmi Mosaku maintains a relatively private personal life. She has been open about her experiences with racism and the importance of representation in the entertainment industry, using her platform to advocate for greater diversity and inclusion. Her journey from a young Nigerian immigrant in Manchester to an internationally acclaimed actress represents both personal triumph and broader progress in British and American entertainment.
WINNER | Television: Supporting actress for Damilola Our Loved Boy (2017)
Suggested viewing
Passenger (2024)
Bftv 8.5 / IMDb 5.7
In the insular Northern village of Chadder Vale, a former Met detective longs for a challenging case. When a local girl mysteriously vanishes then reappears unharmed, the community dismisses it, but the detective senses something deeply wrong. As increasingly bizarre and unsettling incidents unfold, she battles to convince the villagers that their quiet town hides a terrifying secret.
Top cast: Wunmi Mosaku, David Threlfall, Daniel Ryan, Rowan Robinson, Barry Sloane, Natalie Gavin, Jo Hartley, Nico Mirallegro.
His House (2020)
Bftv 8.5 / IMDb 6.4
An asylum-seeking couple from South Sudan finds a disturbing reality in their new UK home. Tormented by unsettling presences within the house and the lingering trauma of their past, they struggle to adapt, facing not only the challenges of integration but also a supernatural horror that threatens to consume them and their last vestiges of hope.
Top cast: Sope Dirisu, Wunmi Mosaku, Malaika Wakoli-Abigaba, Matt Smith, Javier Botet, Emily Taaffe, Dominic Coleman, Yvonne Campbell.
Playtest (2016)
Bftv 9.0 / IMDb 8.0
A cocky American, on the run from his life, takes a bizarre job play-testing a revolutionary virtual reality horror game in London. The advanced neural interface blurs the lines between reality and simulation, trapping him in a terrifying, personalised nightmare as the system adapts to his deepest fears. His sanity unravels as he struggles to distinguish the game from his own mind.
Top cast: Wyatt Russell, Hannah John-Kamen, Wunmi Mosaku, Ken Yamamura, Elizabeth Moynihan, Jamie Paul, Jessica Nell, Chloe Pirrie.
More Black Mirror
Damilola, Our Loved Boy (2016)
Bftv 8.5 / IMDb 7.1
This poignant drama chronicles the true story of a ten-year-old Nigerian boy who, shortly after arriving in London with his family for a new life, is tragically murdered. The film focuses on his parents’ unwavering, arduous quest for justice and how their love and family unit endured through unimaginable grief and a prolonged legal battle.
Top cast: Babou Ceesay, Wunmi Mosaku, Juwon Adedokun, Sammy Kamara, Juma Sharkah, Robert Pugh, Raphel Famotibe, McKell David.
