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As an actor, as you grow into where you fit in the industry, you're just trying to find the opportunities, hoping they grow and you get to do more.

From Mahershala Ali

I think it's important for people of colour to have similar opportunities to white people; that's what is most important.

From Mahershala Ali

It's important for people of colour to have the opportunities to play characters that are as nuanced - as three-dimensional, as human - as the characters who we traditionally see getting to play the protagonist. The good guys and the bad guys. The reason that is important is because it's a better reflection of the reality of the world we live in.

From Mahershala Ali

We live in diverse communities with all sorts of people from all sorts of different backgrounds. The more our entertainment can be a reflection of the world we live in, the better it is for all of us.

From Mahershala Ali

What I think I learned from working on 'Moonlight' is you see what happens when you persecute people. They fold into themselves.

From Mahershala Ali

There was a sadness over me, a melancholy. That's always been a part of me - those are some of the things that lead you to the arts.

From Mahershala Ali

Like so many families, we were dealing with limited means. We weren't poor at all, but we had some challenging times financially. When my stepdad got laid off... we were really trying to find our footing for a couple of years.

From Mahershala Ali

My mom and stepdad were strict. I couldn't date; I couldn't go out. And I was a kid who was never good at just taking no for an answer. I needed to understand why. And sometimes they weren't interested in explaining.

From Mahershala Ali

Regardless of theology or however you see life or relate to worshiping God, as an artist, my job is to tell the truth and then try to connect with these characters and people as honestly and deeply as possible.

From Mahershala Ali

If you convert to Islam after a couple of decades of being a black man in the U.S., the discrimination you receive as a Muslim doesn't feel like a shock.

From Mahershala Ali

Mahershala Ali

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