Michael B. Jordan is celebrating his first career Golden Globe nomination, and he’s giving a lot of credit to a role that pushed him further than ever.
The actor earned a nomination for Best Actor in a Motion Picture Drama for playing twins Smoke and Stack in Sinnersthe blockbuster that exceeded $367 million at the box office.
Jordan admitted the project surprised him from the start.
When director Ryan Coogler called with this idea, he didn’t expect to take on a dual role.
“When Ryan first called me about the role, it was a bit of a shock,” he shared. He said the thought made him anxious, but “sometimes those nerves are a good thing.”
He was excited about the challenge and Coogler made it clear he wanted to push him out of his comfort zone.
The actor and filmmaker have already made five films together, starting with Fruitvale Station in 2013, the film that helped launch Jordan’s career as a star.
He explained that Coogler understood his desire to continue to grow creatively.
“Ryan knew that I wanted to grow and evolve as an actor, and this was definitely an opportunity… to show a range for me to develop two distinct characters.”
Building Smoke and Stack forced Jordan to dig deeper into his emotions. Both characters are World War I veterans turned Chicago gangsters who return home to Clarksdale, Mississippi, only to encounter a darker threat in the 1932 South.
The actor said their personalities are shaped by trauma, something everyone can relate to on some level.
This trauma led to very different people: Smoke as the protective, paternal older brother, and Stack as the more charismatic risk-taker.
“There was a bit of heaviness, but also lightness,” Jordan said. “They are two different characters but they are one person. Their dynamic is so unique and cultivated.”
With Sinners having proven to be a major box office success and now attracting awards attention, Jordan’s jump into a demanding dual performance has clearly paid off.
For him, this recognition marks not only a milestone, but also a moment that reflects the bold artistic risks he continues to take.
