I started traveling by myself as early as 5 to see my dad. I’d go to Toronto or Los Angeles, depending on what show he was doing, but most often New York, and we would hang out, and he’d take me to museums and Broadway plays. The ones that had the biggest impact on me were the George C. Wolfe productions. Mahershala Ali Read Quote
I love hip hop. It’s such an appendage for me. It’s something that’s always shaped my experience out in the world. Mahershala Ali Read Quote
I think that black people, to a degree, need to have a certain level of dexterity. If we want to be at the highest level of whatever our field is, we have to be able to navigate both worlds. We all just know that you gotta be able to put that suit on and have a conversation with people that don’t look like you or your family. Mahershala Ali Read Quote
If you’re not careful as an actor, you can find yourself, at a certain point, a little bit bored. Mahershala Ali Read Quote
I do think that there are people who are able to connect with and empathize with anyone who is going through something difficult, just naturally. I don’t think it’s a world of effort for everyone. Mahershala Ali Read Quote
I don’t want to say I took myself too seriously, but I put a lot of pressure on myself coming out of school. I saw so many people leave the business behind, certain opportunities disappear for folks who had to go into other professions. That kind of terrified me. As a result, I wanted things to happen really quickly. Mahershala Ali Read Quote
I got my Equity card right out of NYU grad school in 2000, doing ‘The Great White Hope’ at Arena Stage. I played Jack Jefferson. It was an amazing part to walk into, to carry that responsibility for that amount of time. The challenges and the breadth of that role were pretty amazing. Mahershala Ali Read Quote
Theater will cast in a more open way; Denzel Washington might play Richard III. Television and film don’t really cast openly like that. The theater world has always been a leader in diversity. Mahershala Ali Read Quote
