Michael B. Jordan says his mother was the first person to call him after his historic Oscar nomination for ‘The Sinner’

As soon as Michael B. Jordan learned that his movie “Sinners” made Oscar history, he knew who to call.

“The first person who called me was my mother,” he revealed to The Hollywood Reporter on Thursday, January 22, shortly after he was nominated for Best Actor and for The Sinners, which earned 16 Oscar nominations, the most ever for a single film.

“It was amazing. I cried a lot of tears. I found out why I’m in this industry, why I’m acting in the first place, why it was an idea,” he continued. “It meant the world to me to talk to the woman who started it all.”

Before Sinners’ historic nomination, the previous record holders were Titanic (1997), La La Land (2016) and All About Eve (1950), which each won a total of 14 nominations.

Elsewhere in an interview with THR, Jordan, 38, said he was still “digesting” the Academy and the film’s success.

Ryan Coogler was nominated for Best Director, Wunmi Mosaku was nominated for Best Supporting Actress, and Delroy Lindo was nominated for Best Supporting Actor. “This is a testament to the entire film and all the work involved, and the people who went to see this movie and saw this movie,” he said of the nominations.

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Jordan’s mother Donna rolled her eyes at host Nikki Glazer’s joke about her son at the 2026 Golden Globe Awards in early January, drawing many laughs.

In a playful opening monologue at the 83rd anniversary celebration on January 11, Glaser highlighted that Jordan played twin characters Smoke and Stack in the horror hit.

“I can’t believe it. There were two Michael B. Jordans. When I saw that, I thought Nicky B. Jerkin, because that was awesome,” Glazer, 41, quipped, playing on Jordan’s full name.

Glazer acknowledged that the joke was inappropriate and that Donna was there, smiling and saying, “I’m so sorry. That should have been a DM.”

On Jimmy Kimmel Live! On January 12, Jordan said of Groves, “I had fun, but my mom stole the show. …I bet all her girlfriends are texting her and sending her every meme and clip they can.”

“Is your mom uncomfortable with women openly lusting after you?” host Jimmy Kimmel asked.

Jordan, who was named PEOPLE’s Sexiest Man Alive in 2020, admitted it’s common. “I think she’s used to it by now,” the Creed star said. “So she just moves her eyes a little bit and keeps pushing a little bit. She doesn’t really react much.”

Conan O’Brien will return as host of the Oscars ceremony, which will be broadcast live on ABC and streamed on Hulu on Sunday, March 15th at 7pm ET.