With his role in Green Book, Mahershala Ali nabs his second Best Actor in a Supporting Role Academy Award his portrayal of Dr. Don Shirley, a closeted classical pianist on tour in the deep south in the 1950s and '60s.
"Trying to capture Dr. Shirley's essence pushed me to my ends," said Ali in his acceptance speech. "Which is a reflection of the person he was and the life that he lived."
While Green Book is being heralded at the Oscars, black and LGBTQ critics aren't quite as fond of it. Many panned the movie as a "white savior film" that "apologizes" for its character's sexuality. The critique is all the more apparent with unapologetically queer films like The Favourite and Can You Ever Forgive Me? losing most major award categories.
Green Book was nominated for four more Academy Awards tonight, including Best Picture, Best Actor for Viggo Mortensen, Best Original Screenplay, and Best Film Editing.
Ali won his first Oscar just two years ago for his unforgettable role in the critically-acclaimed LGBTQ film Moonlight. He is the first Muslim actor to win an Oscar in the award show's history.
