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https://www.facebook.com/ABCNews/videos/10155447603493812/
HEAVILY-BACKED FAVOURITE Mahershala Ali won the best supporting actor Oscar for his portrayal of a drug dealer in coming-of-age drama Moonlight — becoming the first Muslim film star to pick up a golden statuette.
A first-time nominee, the 43-year-old actor saw off competition from Britain’s Dev Patel, veteran US actors Jeff Bridges and Michael Shannon and newcomer Lucas Hedges.
“I want to thank my teachers, my professors,” Ali said.
“One thing that they consistently told me… ‘It’s not about you. It’s about these characters. You are a servant. You’re in service to these stories and these characters’.”
He thanked his fellow cast members — and his wife, who gave birth to their first child, a girl, just days earlier.
Barry Jenkins’s Moonlight tells the life story of a young African-American struggling to find his place as he grows up in a rough neighborhood of Miami.
In a brief but acclaimed performance, Ali’s drug dealer Juan imparts life lessons to the protagonist Chiron that help him survive in prison and in the outside world.
The role won Oakland-born Ali best supporting actor at the Screen Actors Guild Awards, although he lost out to Aaron Taylor-Johnson (Nocturnal Animals) at the Golden Globes.
‘It’s not new’
Ali, a Muslim convert since 1999 with a Christian minister for a mother, joined the minority Ahmadiyya Community, a movement seen as heretical by other Islamic sects, in 2001.
Muslims have won Oscars in various categories over the years — including Pakistani documentary filmmaker Sharmeen Obaid-Chinoy and feature director Asghar Farhadi — but none has taken a statuette for acting.
Ellen Burstyn, who won a best actress Oscar in 1975, has practiced a blend of Sufism and other religions since her late 30s but has said she considers herself a “spirit open to the truth” rather than a Muslim.
“Regardless of one’s theology or how you see life or relate to worshipping God, as an artist your job is the same… to try and tell the truth,” he said backstage on Sunday.
He added that he didn’t feel an actor’s religion was relevant to his work unless it “gives you more empathy to the people you have to advocate for.”
Ali recently told Britain’s Radio Times magazine that he discovered he was on an FBI watchlist after the 11 September, 2001 attacks.
“If you convert to Islam after a couple of decades of being a black man in the US, the discrimination you receive as a Muslim doesn’t feel like a shock,” he said.
I’ve been pulled over, asked where my gun is, asked if I’m a pimp, had my car pulled apart. Muslims will feel like there’s this new discrimination that they hadn’t received before — but it’s not new for us.
Before Moonlight, Ali is best known however for his Emmy-nominated portrayal of White House lobbyist turned chief of staff Remy Danton in Netflix political drama House of Cards.
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Fair play to him but Religion should be irrelevant to the Oscars.
Religion is never irrelevant to the religious…more’s the pity.
I hope he won it because he was good not because he was a muslim.
Saw the movie. He was only in it for half of it. I really like him as an actor, he has been great in some other films. Think this one is a bit politically motivated though. Same as Ruth negga being nominated. Think she was very bland loving to be honest
Seeing an awful lot of negativity towards Ruth Negga. Particularly red thumbs for any positive comments. Whats that all about?
Moronic comment Maurice.
@Charlie Wrex: Overt racism, the alt right don’t believe she’s Irish because her skin isn’t white.
Charlie – Probably because the movie she was in was just a chick flick. She’s still really talented imo
She’s a brutal actress.
Katherine Heigl films are chick flicks, you wouldn’t describe Loving as such.
Being cast as Tulip in Preacher was one of the worst casting decisions ever. Anyone who has read the graphic novels knows this. Id say thats where a lot of the negativity comes from.
Chill out Rochelle. I love Ruth Negga , I think she’s a fantastic actress. It’s just an opinion on a performance. I also think Glen hazards song that won an Oscar was shite. Does that mean I hate gingers….. well actually you might be on to something cause I’m not too fond of them
@Rochelle:
That’s right Rochelle, blame everything on racism. It’s not like that’s been done to death or anything.
@Jason Culligan:
What’s your opinion of Ruth Negga, a fan?
@Rochelle: Get a life instead of looking for shIt that isn’t even there to be offended by!
The irony of it. The original post and others since suggest that a black Muslim may have gotten the Oscar for reasons beyond his ability and performance yet the outrage goes another way.
@Maurice Bourke: most likely that any female Muslim would have gone missing. If she won it.
@Rocheabout we’ll have to find a phrase who uses and incorrectly term about all right.
@Jho Harris: Alt right
He won because he was good and not because he was Muslim. He won for best supporting actor so the criticism
For him being only in half the movie is laughable. Hopkins won for for his lector portrayal and he had like 30 lines and was in the movie for 20mins. Di caprio won last year when he didn’t deserve it. It’s all subjective.
@GOH: He’s a great actor of that there is no doubt but it’s blatantly obvious this was politically motivated. Liberals must have been gutted he didn’t take he bait and go on a Trump bashing rant.
What’s blatantly obvious about it being politically motivated? The movie he was in got ravie reviews. Who should’ve won ahead of him?
@GOH:
If you think this man won the Oscar for any reason other than the current political situation in the United States, you are an imbecile.
We all know you’re an imbecile. You set up a fake twitter account just to cry about an actor you don’t know winning an award in a highly acclaimed movie in which his performance was highly acclaimed. I suggest you save what few brain cells you have left and lay off the glue.
“GOH” off on his fake twitter tangent once again. Boring.
Obviously not that boring if you feel the need to reply. Always makes me laugh how fragile you lads are. Who should of won it ahead of him? It’s all a conspiracy! George soros bribed the academy! Wipe that foam away from your mouth kid.
That was a great Oscars for diversity! That’s what we should focus on; better diversity and never mind better films….
Why focus on diversity?
Focus on talent.
Wooosh
@Philip King: Because last year there was war when there were no black nominees
Any facts on left handed people winning ?
Saw the movie and thought it no better than above average. His performance was ok but I truly feel the academy are trying to make up for last years black snub fiasco. I know movies just like art, dance, photography, music etc are very subjective but the whole thing is a bit of a joke now. I would place a lot more faith and trust in the smaller festivals.
He was excellent
Oh look the first Muslim to get an oscar only a few weeks after Trump became president. Who’d have tunk it huh?
Who indeed would have “tunk” it…
Were they not all truly historic! Just wait until the first Jedi wins
They wouldn’t give it to an Irish Catholic girl from Ethiopia though would they.
@Emmet O’Keeffe:
Best supporting actor? No, I don’t think so.
Just as well he was in America, if he was a foreigner he wouldn’t have got in to the country to accept his award.
Really enjoyed his character, Remy Danton, in House of Cards, so looking forward to seeing him in Moonlight.
He was absolutely incredible in “House of Cards”. Looking forward to seeing “Moonlight”
have your say