Mahershala Ali Quotes

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Mahershala Ali

Profession : Actor

Birth : February 16, 1974

I think #OscarsSoWhite is about there not truly being enough people of color represented.

Mahershala Ali

Hollywood has to be a better reflection of the world we live in.

Mahershala Ali

For my characters, it's important to get really specific about what they listen to. Because it affects how they move in the world.

Mahershala Ali

Come on, we would be foolish to say that there's never been African-American leads in some capacity, people of color in some capacity, leading shows or what have you. But it hasn't happened enough and in a manner that is an accurate reflection of the world that we live in.

Mahershala Ali

'Luke Cage' is about a reluctant superhero who lives in the shadows in Harlem. He has to decide if he's going to step up and fight for the heart of the city and defend the people against Cornell 'Cottonmouth' Stokes, my character, who kinda wants to keep everything in order and intact. I'm the criminal element in the story.

Mahershala Ali

I really wasn't into comic books growing up.

Mahershala Ali

I loved going to superhero films growing up - you come home, and you pretend to be those people, and it ends up informing much of what you aspire to be. And that's what I will say is important about the genre.

Mahershala Ali

As young people, you want to see people who in some way look like you to some degree, because it makes it a little easier for you to aspire to take on the qualities of those people.

Mahershala Ali

I'd always wanted to do a Marvel project, and I'd always imagined getting to play one of the superheroes because it's such a hard thing to get. It's the parts that only go to a few people. The flip side of that is the antagonists are pretty awesome.

Mahershala Ali

In thinking about it, the villains often have a little bit more range because their morality is different. You can have just a really good time as an actor, and there is just more there that you can explore on that side of the story.

Mahershala Ali

If you're throwing someone off a roof, you're throwing them off the roof. It's there. You don't have to do anything extra with that. The audience is obviously going to react to that because it's such a heightened thing to do. But in the other moments, you really look for ways to craft those, because they're more important, honestly.

Mahershala Ali

There are instances where you're in a space with someone who has been extraordinarily successful, and they don't necessarily connect with you as another person. You can be a prop for them to deliver their stuff, and you're just another element in the scene.

Mahershala Ali

I don't have a wallet. I carry my driver's license and a couple of credit cards in my phone. That, and a money clip.

Mahershala Ali

To really be conscious of how long the journey is, be patient, push yourself, persevere, and always be working on your craft while waiting for your break. That's what I'm still working on, having done this for 20 years now.

Mahershala Ali

The people that I admire have a wonderful balance of self-belief and humility.

Mahershala Ali

I believe that everything has a shelf life.

Mahershala Ali

Basketball wasn't going particularly well, but in my senior year, I did a play and got a wonderful card from a professor that said, 'I don't know what your plans are after school or if acting is a part of it, but you have something special.' Hearing that from someone who I had so much respect for pointed me in that direction.

Mahershala Ali

There's nothing fun about 30 people standing around watching you, like, pretend to pleasure someone. Nothing enjoyable about it, believe me.

Mahershala Ali

I've never seen anyone - and I've had the opportunity to work with some really terrific actors in my time - but Philip Seymour Hoffman is definitely the best I ever had the opportunity to work with.

Mahershala Ali

The more you work and get known for something, sometimes things begin to narrow a bit, and your opportunities get more... specific.

Mahershala Ali