Filmmaker Ryan Coogler at a Q&A for Sinners in Los Angeles, Calif.

Michael B. Jordan wins Best Actor

When Michael B. Jordan won the Best Actor Oscar for his portrayal of twin brothers Smoke and Stack in “Sinners,” Ryan Coogler’s blockbuster vampire allegory about race in America, Jordan became just the sixth Black man in the 98-year history of the Academy Awards to win the honor and remarkably, it was his first nomination.

“Sinners” set a record with 16 nominations but received only four statues: Best Original Screenplay, Best Actor, Best Cinematography and Best Score. Its rival, “One Battle After Another,” won the night with six, including the top prizes of Best Picture and Best Director.

In an emotional acceptance speech, Jordan acknowledged that he was standing on the shoulders of giants: Sidney Poitier, Denzel Washington, Jamie Foxx, Forest Whitaker and Will Smith. He also paid tribute to Halle Berry, who remains the first — and still the only — Black woman to win Best Actress, for the 2001 “Monster’s Ball.”

At 39, Jordan’s career is already filled with accolades. In addition to his Oscar, he has earned three Screen Actors Guild Awards and a Producers Guild Award, along with nominations from the British Academy of Film and Television Arts (BAFTA), Golden Globe Awards and the Primetime Emmy Awards. He has twice been named one of Time magazine’s 100 most influential people and was crowned People magazine’s “Sexiest Man Alive” in 2020.

Jordan triumphed over a competitive field of Best Actor nominees including Timothée Chalamet, Ethan Hawke, Wagner Moura and Leonardo DiCaprio.

Born in Santa Ana, California, and raised in Newark, New Jersey, Jordan began as a child model before transitioning into acting. Early television roles, including HBO’s “The Wire,” hinted at his potential, but it was his powerful performance in “Fruitvale Station” that launched his enduring creative partnership with Coogler. In that 2013 film, Jordan portrayed Oscar Grant in Coogler’s directorial debut, marking the beginning of one of Hollywood’s most impactful collaborations.

They reunited in 2015 to revive the “Rocky” franchise with “Creed,” where Jordan’s transformation into Adonis Creed required a year of intense physical training. He performed without a body double and was often “bloodied, bruised and dizzy” during filming. The Coogler/Jordan partnership continued with “Black Panther,” in which Jordan delivered a standout performance as Erik Killmonger, and again in “Black Panther: Wakanda Forever.”

I had the opportunity to be on the red carpet and backstage at the 98th Academy Awards, and after three decades of covering the Oscars, I can say this: I have never seen anything like what happened that night. When Michael B. Jordan walked into the press room, the entire room rose to its feet in a spontaneous, rousing standing ovation.

I got the chance to ask him, “What mental exercises did he used to create the distinct personalities of Smoke and Stack?” He told me: “I write journals for each of my characters, their backstories, from the earliest memory I can imagine all the way to the first page of the script. It helps me understand where they’re coming from and guides my choices. With these characters, I focused on their childhood trauma to differentiate them. Smoke is quieter, more of a protector. Stack is lighter, more buoyant, a slick talker. I imagined their history, how often they argued, kept score, who was right or wrong. It’s those nuances between the lines that I hope came through.”

Whatever Jordan’s process, it worked. He created two fully realized, believable characters that will stand the test of time. Jordan also shared how humbled he feels by the support he’s received throughout his life.

He comes from a close-knit family. His mother, Donna, is a familiar and beloved presence at awards shows. His sister Jamila worked for me a few years ago and is one of the smartest and nicest people I know. His father and younger brother were also there to support him on his big night. And in a moment that perfectly captured who he is, after the ceremony Jordan headed to In-N-Out Burger, Oscar in hand, joining regular customers who were both stunned and delighted by his presence. That’s Michael B. Jordan: one of the biggest stars in the world, yet still grounded, still real.

It was also a historic night for the Academy and “Sinners.” Autumn Durald Arkapaw became the first woman ever to win the Academy Award for Best Cinematography, and Coogler took home Best Original Screenplay.

It was a powerful night at the Oscars that felt bigger than awards. A night of legacy, excellence and representation. And in that moment, it truly felt like we all won.