There is something sensual about the entire film, but Annie and Smoke’s scenes specifically are laden with such an intense, erotic chemistry, it made me feel like a voyeur at times. How did you and Michael B. Jordan build their love story together?

Woof. Elijah and Annie…they’re just everything. I think her love for him is inseparable from her magic. There is a reason why his mojo bag worked and no one else’s has. Annie’s doesn’t work, their daughters didn’t work. I think she poured everything she had into his mojo bag when they first met 20 years ago.

From the moment Michael and I first met, it was very easy. He’s a generous, good person… We just respect each other so much. That made all of it possible.

Watching that surreal montage in the theater felt like ascending. I can’t even begin to imagine what it felt like for you guys on set.

It felt exactly like that, like levitating. We shot it in two days, which is almost bizarre to say out loud because realistically, it should have taken way longer. That first day was a night shoot. There were bugs and flames everywhere. Let me tell you, though, we were on cloud nine. It felt electric. I was in awe of every performer’s gift. It was also the same night we did “Rocky Road to Dublin,” and everyone was so high off that energy that when we wrapped, we were all like, We’re not going anywhere. We are staying and watching, just to bask in it a little bit longer. When we did the one-shot steady cam for the interior, I made sure my daughter came to set that day. I just wanted her to soak in the energy of her people. It was beautiful. I never want to forget it.

Sinners has made me greedy. I want to see more of our stories brought to life, in every genre. What do you want do next? My pitch is a Ryan Coogler/Wunmi romance film. Ryan clearly understands how to frame and write women…

That sounds good as hell. I’m ready.

Would you actually be down? I’m adding this to the piece you know.

I would be so down. I just want to work with Ryan again, and you’re right: there’s a deftness to the way he handles the women in his stories that I love. I just want to tell good stories with good people. Ryan loves people. He empowers everyone. He makes everyone feel like the head of their department. He listens to you. If your face twitches, he goes, “I want to hear that thought. Tell me what you need.”