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Sixsmith (Steve Coogan) and Philomena (Judi Dench) in 'Philomena'

Published Mar 21, 2026, 10:05 AM EDT

Liam Gaughan is a film and TV writer at Collider. He has been writing film reviews and news coverage for ten years. Between relentlessly adding new titles to his watchlist and attending as many screenings as he can, Liam is always watching new movies and television shows.

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Wunmi Mosaku has had quite a breakout year, as her performance in Sinners was widely acclaimed and earned her a well-deserved Academy Award nomination for Best Supporting Actress. Being a part of the most nominated film in history is an impressive achievement, but Sinners isn’t the first film Mosaku appeared in that was recognized by the Oscars. She had a very small role in Philomena, a quiet character novel based on a true story that inspired the non-fiction book The Lost Child of Philomena Lee by Martin Sixsmith. On its surface, Philomena may look like the sort of flat Oscar bait that The Weinstein Company frequently put out during the 2010s, but the film is a surprisingly moving, often funny exploration of unlikely friendship and a shocking conspiracy.

‘Philomena’ Is Inspired by a Riveting True Story

Any two-hander is reliant on the strength of its two leads, and Philomena features the best work that both Coogan and Dench have ever done, which is no small statement when considering their impressive track records. Dench is truly remarkable at showing how Philomena has remained committed to the ideals of her faith throughout her life, even though it was the Church that offered her no sympathy when she wasn’t given any freedoms. Coogan is best known for his comedic work, but there’s always been an undercurrent of cynicism within his performances, specifically The Trip series, where he played a fictionalized version of himself. Philomena is an even more powerful role because Sixsmith finds himself enraged on behalf of Philomena, even though she does not personally express any hatred. It’s a story that Coogan was clearly highly passionate about, as he also co-wrote the film and received an Academy Award nomination for Best Adapted Screenplay.

Partridge (Steve Coogan) in 'Alan Partridge_ Alpha Papa'

Mosaku has a small role in the film as one of the young nuns who Philomena encounters while she is a teenager. While she doesn’t have any significant lines, the flashbacks are key to Philomena because they serve as a reminder of what the character has been through and how it has resonated with her throughout her lifetime. Not only was Philomena not given a choice regarding her pregnancy, but she was shamed by her family and community, which gave her a lifelong struggle to overcome feelings of self-doubt. What made it particularly upsetting is that Philomena was told that God would not forgive her, but never gave up her faith or retreated from her participation in organized religion. Although Dench offers a lot of humor in her performance (particularly in a hilarious scene in which Philomena describes the plot of her favorite book to Sixsmith), the strength she finds in Philomena’s resilience is an amazing portrayal of how dignity itself can be a challenging act of bravery.

‘Philomena’ Has an Important Message About Faith and Forgiveness

At the center of Philomena is a complex discussion about faith; while Sixsmith is an atheist and Philomena is an ardent believer, the film doesn’t condemn either character for their personal religious affiliation. Sixsmith grows frustrated when he tries to point out the institutional flaws in the Church to Philomena, but her belief in the grace of God is enough for her to retain her faith in the goodness of others, even if her own religion has been used against her. Sixsmith’s profound revelation is that it is optimism that makes Philomena so strong, as she was able to entrust him with telling her story, despite the fact that he has become jaded with the way that journalism has taken a turn for the worse. These ideas may sound simple in concept, but they’re much harder to reckon with when Philomena is faced with information that was denied to her about her son that would have shaped both of their lives in a completely different way.

The film’s narrative poignancy may be a result of the sharp, insightful writing that Coogan has become renowned for, but Philomena was directed by Stephen Frears, one of the most underrated living directors. Between romantic dramas like My Beautiful Laundrette, crime thrillers like The Hit, cult classic comedies like High Fidelity, and period costume pieces like Dangerous Liaisons, Frears is a filmmaker who understands the complexity of human nature, and how people cannot be defined by any one trait, be it their profession, sexuality, religion, or physicality. Philomena is ultimately a hopeful movie about a woman who continues to advocate for adoption rights, and attended the Oscars alongside Frears, Dench, and Coogan to promote her charitable work. Even if Philomena was recognized at the time, it deserves to be remembered as a thoughtful, challenging story of forgiveness and humanity that has a story relevant to people of any age or faith.

Philomena is available to stream on Tubi in the U.S.