Hailee Steinfeld’s Sinners movie role has captured the spotlight, as the 1930s-set film scored major acclaim at recent awards shows and earned critical praise for both its story and performances. The dynamic ensemble cast, including Steinfeld, Michael B. Jordan, Delroy Lindo, and Wunmi Mosaku, has brought new depth to the dramatic narrative set in the Jim Crow-era Mississippi Delta, with the movie gathering multiple Critics Choice Awards and numerous Golden Globe nominations.
Casting Collaboration Fuels a Powerful Film
Director Ryan Coogler and Michael B. Jordan have maintained a productive partnership, previously joining forces for Fruitvale Station, the acclaimed Black Panther series, and the sports drama Creed. This collaborative spirit continued with Sinners, as Coogler specifically envisioned Jordan as the twin brothers, Smoke and Stack, who return from Chicago to rural Mississippi with ambitions of opening a nightclub during one of America’s most turbulent eras. The director’s approach drew inspiration from his own collegiate football experience—
Sometimes I’d have four or five different quarterbacks in a season, and that was always tough,
Ryan Coogler, Filmmaker
It gave me a real appreciation for how important chemistry is when you can find it.
Ryan Coogler, Filmmaker
This focus on chemistry shaped not just the creation of the film’s characters, but the entire ensemble. The core group’s performances, including Hailee Steinfeld’s portrayal of Mary, have been recognized as an essential part of the film’s emotional intensity. Michael B. Jordan discussed the collaborative atmosphere among the cast—
I think it’s one of those things where you all get on set and everybody is collectively doing the work together and everybody’s vibing off one another,
Michael B. Jordan, Actor
He emphasized the sincerity at the heart of the film’s making—
You kind of know you have something that’s honest,
Michael B. Jordan, Actor
And then hopefully that keeps up traction after the movie is long and done and over with.
Michael B. Jordan, Actor
Hailee Steinfeld’s Triumph and Family Milestones
Hailee Steinfeld, acclaimed for her musical and acting range, took on the role of Mary, Stack’s former girlfriend, earning attention for her nuanced performance amid the supernatural and historical themes of the film. Off-screen, Steinfeld’s life has been equally eventful. In 2023, she began dating Buffalo Bills quarterback Josh Allen and celebrated more personal milestones in 2025 by marrying him. Six months into their marriage, Steinfeld reflected—
That inner peace that you have, that rock, that solid, consistent part of your life is indescribable,
Hailee Steinfeld, Actress
I literally thank God every day that I found my person, and it’s the greatest thing in the world. Life makes sense. Everything makes sense.
Hailee Steinfeld, Actress
The couple shared even more news, announcing Steinfeld’s pregnancy and her sense of fulfillment—
I feel like I am stepping into the version that I’ve always dreamed of being,
Hailee Steinfeld, Actress
having so much to do with being with him.
Hailee Steinfeld, Actress
Michael B. Jordan’s Pivotal Role and Personal Growth
In Sinners, Michael B. Jordan delivered a critically admired dual performance as both Smoke and Stack. Following his split from Lori Harvey, Jordan has kept his focus on his career and was open about how his work shapes his personal life—
I’m not tripping over it…I’m so work focused,
Michael B. Jordan, Actor
I would want somebody to fit into the flow of my life, of where I am. And that’s timing, right? You can meet the right person, and be at the wrong time, and it just doesn’t work out.
Michael B. Jordan, Actor
After this revelation, he was seen in London with actress Taylor Russell, and the two were briefly set to collaborate on an upcoming film before Russell left due to creative differences. With Sinners, Jordan received a Golden Globe nomination for Best Actor – Motion Picture – Drama, reinforcing his status as one of Hollywood’s most talented and sought-after stars.
Wunmi Mosaku’s Emotional Connection to Her Character
Wunmi Mosaku, a British-Nigerian actress whose credits include Lovecraft Country, Luther, and Loki, took on the role of Annie, Smoke’s estranged wife who turns to Hoodoo in her grief. Mosaku reflected on her career journey and personal life, shaped by her move to the United States to be with her husband—
I definitely wouldn’t have gone on a date with an American that I ended up marrying,
Wunmi Mosaku, Actress
I mean, it’s the best thing that ever happened.
Wunmi Mosaku, Actress
Her experience as a new mother also influenced her portrayal of Annie—
Being a mom is an integral part of Annie, and it’s an integral part of me, now,
Wunmi Mosaku, Actress
I was like, ‘I can learn from her as a mother.’
Wunmi Mosaku, Actress
Delroy Lindo’s Versatility and Family Support
Delroy Lindo, celebrated for his performances on stage and screen, played the blues legend Delta Slim. Lindo’s personal life and over thirty years of marriage to Nashormeh Lindo, an artist and educator, has shaped his approach to acting—
I try to separate my work from my personal life,
Delroy Lindo, Actor
but sometimes the lines blur a bit.
Delroy Lindo, Actor
Lindo humorously responded to questions about his ability to charm on screen—
You’ll have to ask my wife!
Delroy Lindo, Actor
I don’t set out to be charming; I focus on finding the humanity in every character I play. Maybe that humanity reads as charm.
Delroy Lindo, Actor
Musical Partnerships: Peter Dreimanis, Leah Fay Goldstein, Lola Kirke, and Wyndham Boylan-Garnett
Peter Dreimanis, who took on the challenging role of Bert, a local KKK member, shares a strong creative bond with his partner Leah Fay Goldstein, vocalist for the band July Talk. Their connection began in 2010, as Goldstein remembered—
I had never met anyone like you before,
Leah Fay Goldstein, Musician
You were the only person who was wearing cowboy boots in Toronto in 2010. It was intriguing.
Leah Fay Goldstein, Musician
Their artistic process is a balancing act, as Dreimanis described—
approach our art in very different ways,
Peter Dreimanis, Musician
I feel like I’m more of an executor and more of a doer—and you’re more of like a thinker and an observer. So, we push each other pretty hard.
Peter Dreimanis, Musician
Lola Kirke, portraying Joan in Sinners, has found harmony off-set as well, making music with her partner Wyndham Boylan-Garnett. Recounting their early days, Kirke shared—
When we first got together, Wyndham and I rented a house in upstate New York and spent the majority of our time drinking too much wine and learning songs we liked on guitar,
Lola Kirke, Actress/Musician
so we could at least sing them at parties and maybe one day even record them.
Lola Kirke, Actress/Musician
Boylan-Garnett, who works with Kirke on music projects, noted their shared appreciation for classic sounds—
We’re both big lovers of the music of yesteryear.
Wyndham Boylan-Garnett, Musician
The Road Forward for the Stars of Sinners
Sinners has distinguished itself through a blend of compelling storytelling, meaningful historic context, and deeply personal performances from actors like Hailee Steinfeld, Michael B. Jordan, Wunmi Mosaku, and Delroy Lindo. The awards recognition and audience response have set a high bar for future projects involving these artists. As they continue to compete through awards season, their work and personal journeys remain closely watched, and the Sinners cast’s collective achievements in 2026 may very well signal a new era of collaboration and artistry in American cinema.
