Mahershala Ali has been racking up this awards season, and now the actor can add a SAG Award to his mantelpiece.
Mahershala won the SAG Award for Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Supporting Role at tonight’s ceremony for his stunning turn as Juan, the compassionate drug dealer in the critically acclaimed film Moonlight.
During his acceptance speech, the 42-year-old actor, who celebrates his 43rd birthday next month, thanked director Barry Jenkins, his cast and more.
Mahershala also used his acceptance speech to call attention to Donald Trump’s Muslim ban: “My mother is an ordained minister; I’m a Muslim. She didn’t do backflips when I called her to tell her I converted 17 years ago. But I tell you now, you put things to the side. And I’m able to see her, and she’s able to see me. We love each other and the love has grown. And that stuff is minutiae. It’s not that important.”
Like Viola, Mahershala is the frontrunner to win the Academy Award for Actor in a Supporting Role at next month’s ceremony.
Mahershala Ali of @moonlightmov #sagawards pic.twitter.com/q9txL6fW8R
— SAG Awards® (@SAGawards) January 30, 2017
Congratulations, Mahershala!
