Mahershala Ali discusses Oscars, Green Book backlash and new roles at BFI London Film Festival

Left · 2Two-time Oscar winner Mahershala Ali took part in a Screen Talk at the 70th BFI London Film Festival on Saturday 17 October, hosted by Empire's Amon Warmann. 1 2 Left · 2Asked about his Oscars for Moonlight and Green Book, Ali said he keeps them in a cabinet, out of his sightline, so he could get back to work, and that he felt "a sense of accomplishment, which is not fulfillment". 1 2 Left · 2He addressed the controversy around Green Book, which involved accusations of historical inaccuracies and questions over what the family of pianist Don Shirley had and had not sanctioned. Ali said, "I stand by the work," and by the experience and what it taught him. 1 2

Left · 2Ali described going from feeling like a "golden boy" to wondering what he had done wrong, called the response to the film partly "vitriolic", and said he is "just sensitive in general", so it had an impact on him. 1 2 Left · 1Variety reported that Ali became tearful on stage while discussing Moonlight, which recently marked its 10th anniversary, and the scene in which young Chiron asks Ali's character Juan whether he sells drugs. Ali said he drew on an uncle-like figure from his youth who was later sent to prison. 2 Left · 2Both outlets quote him on playing people who "haven't been seen", saying such roles contribute to communities often not seen as worthy or human enough. 1 2

Left · 2Ali plays Latif, a devout Muslim father and contract killer, in the thriller Your Mother Your Mother Your Mother. He said Latif is passionate about justice and, in an American context, feels it is his duty to act where he believes crimes against Black men go unpunished, especially by law enforcement. He also said he does not feel Black fathers have the dimensionality he would like. 1 2 Left · 2Ali said he almost went crazy playing detective Wayne Hays at three ages on True Detective, which followed Green Book. He described 80-hour weeks with four hours in the makeup chair from 3:30 a.m., on a seven-month shoot. 1 2 Left · 1On the Spider-Verse films, in which he voices Aaron Davis, he declined to give details of his role in Beyond the Spider-Verse, saying "I've got to be careful" and joking that he might not be in it. He said animation will hold up better than live action. 2

Left · 2Ali is now working on season two of HBO's Task with Mark Ruffalo. He said he feels "exhausted for the right reasons" and that he feels he is "just getting started". 1 2