Michael B. Jordan Shares Emotional Reaction to His First Oscar Nomination

Michael B. Jordan has starred in a bunch of successful movies. Creed. Black Panther. Fruitvale Station. He's been named People's Sexiest Man Alive and one of Time's most influential people in the world. Despite his Hollywood cache, the famed actor had never been nominated for an Oscar until now.

Sinners broke the record for most Academy Award nods, raking in 16 nominations. One of them was Jordan for Best Actor in a Leading Role — his first time ever being nominated. Despite the news only just breaking earlier today, Jordan has already opened up about the emotional whirlwind of it all.

In an interview with The Hollywood Reporter, the Sinners star revealed the first person he called upon hearing the news: his mom. "A lot of tears and the reason why I’m even in this industry and why I’m acting at all — why that was even an idea, he said. "To talk to the woman who started it all first meant the world." Aw, now I'm gonna cry!

Understandably, being nominated for an Oscar is an extremely emotional experience, especially when you've been an A-lister for as long as Jordan has. "I’ve admired and seen the Academy and the other actors in the movies and filmmakers that I’ve looked up to and been inspired by my whole life,” he said. “To be in those conversations and in that company is a solidifying feeling.”

Among the other Sinners nominees was director Ryan Coogler, Jordan's frequent collaborator dating back to Fruitvale Station. Coogler was previously nominated for Best Picture in 2022 for his film Judas and the Black Messiah starring Daniel Kaluuya and LaKeith Stanfield. Despite their long working relationship, at the time of The Hollywood Reporter's interview with Jordan, he and Coogler had yet to congratulate each other. "I’m sure Ryan is doing his phone calls right now, so we missed each other," the Black Panther star said. "We called each other back and forth, so I’m going to connect with him pretty soon too."