Mahershala Ali

I always hope to be a better person tomorrow than today.

— Mahershala Ali

'House of Cards' opened some doors. I've been able to tackle some diverse stories and characters.

— Mahershala Ali

Between the two [parents], it was a really unique upbringing, I think, especially for where I was from.

— Mahershala Ali

I do believe in the potential of like-minded people coming together.

— Mahershala Ali

At the end of the day we're all spirits having a physical experience.

— Mahershala Ali

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

— Mahershala Ali

Hold tight to the mentality of being a student, meaning hold on to curiosity and approach life as a student.

— Mahershala Ali

Getting to St. Mary's College was a big deal for me because that essentially led to me getting to go to NYU.

— Mahershala Ali

In my time at St. Mary's College, drifting out of sports because it was something that began to feel really finite. And…

— Mahershala Ali

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

— Mahershala Ali

We live in diverse communities with all sorts of people from all sorts of different backgrounds. The more our entertainment can be…

— Mahershala Ali

“When we get caught up in the minutiae, the details that make us all different... There's opportunity to see the texture of…

— Mahershala Ali

As a kid, my dad would take me to see indie films when I would visit him in New York. Films that…

— Mahershala Ali

I think my mom gave me the borders, the - gave me a very clear understanding of what the perimeter was. And…

— Mahershala Ali

I played all four years [at St. Mary's College] with - at a certain point, basketball became the thing I was doing…

— Mahershala Ali

One thing that the audience, and perhaps critics, aren't aware of is that, especially in a film like 'Moonlight,' you always shoot…

— Mahershala Ali

I converted Dec. 31, 1999. It was a Friday. That was my second time going to the mosque. The woman who is…

— Mahershala Ali

[Crack epidemic] definitely has impacted folks in my family, most definitely. I think that's true for most, if not all people, regardless…

— Mahershala Ali

I love Michelle Williams. I think she's extraordinary. I was such a fan of 'Blue Valentine,' and I heard stories about how…

— Mahershala Ali

Before I got into grad school, I used to work as a deck hand on these ferry boats in San Francisco, and…

— Mahershala Ali

Isaiah the prophet, Isaiah's second son was - his symbolic name was Mahershalalhashbaz. And Isaiah was - the Prophet Isaiah was instructed…

— Mahershala Ali

I was born in Oakland and grew up, probably about five miles from Oakland, in Hayward. And Hayward was OK. Like, Hayward…

— Mahershala Ali

As a kid, you're starting to grow up and want more freedoms. But if you have people who are absorbing and adopting…

— Mahershala Ali

My connection to music is so strong. I cling to it. I vibe out to it. I release stress to it. Music…

— Mahershala Ali

Having a child is the polar opposite experience of the awards season experience. The awards-season experience requires you to be out in…

— Mahershala Ali

I was fortunately able to avoid getting into any trouble with police. There was - I remember I was 12, and I…

— Mahershala Ali

I went to a mosque in Philadelphia with [my wife] in December 24, 1999. And we we went to this mosque in…

— Mahershala Ali

Anyone who grew up in the crack era - you know, I grew up in that era - knew that there were…

— Mahershala Ali

I know there were periods of times where I didn't feel understood, and there were very few people around me that I…

— Mahershala Ali

There was things just like not being able to date or - I'm talking like 15, 16 - like just certain things…

— Mahershala Ali

My experiences growing up - my father lived in New York, so I was going out there in the summers and meeting…

— Mahershala Ali

I had gone to - that was my second time going to the mosque. And then at that time we met [with…

— Mahershala Ali

I'm not much of cook, but I cook a mean bowl of oatmeal.

— Mahershala Ali

I just love what Nicholas Britell did with 'Moonlight.'

— Mahershala Ali

There was a sadness over me, a melancholy. That's always been a part of me - those are some of the things…

— Mahershala Ali

As an actor, as you grow into where you fit in the industry, you're just trying to find the opportunities, hoping they…

— 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…

— Mahershala Ali

At graduate school in 1999, I finally had the chance to examine why I believe what I believe. I realised that I'd…

— Mahershala Ali

I was always sort of ahead of myself in some way, shape or form and trying to envision how to get further…

— Mahershala Ali

I never wanted to accept that. And so I have always fought against that in some way, shape or form and had…

— Mahershala Ali