Mahershala Ali Quotes

I miss working with great actors, working with great directors.

I like playing off strong actors, whether it's Benedict Cumberbatch or Dominic Cooper. Also I'm a hopeless romantic, so I'm fascinated by relationships.

Acting is reacting, and it's always easier to react when someone is doing a good job.

To be able to work with actors who are doing such good work, not only makes it easier for you, but it makes you better.

Good actors can sort of see into people and immediately you have a chemistry with them or not. It's like an affair with no mess.

I think that different actors go about their preparation differently, but when it comes to acting, I use my imagination.

I love actors. That's my bread and butter, and I got to work with some amazing ones on '12 Years'.

I love working with great actors.

As an actor, one's role is very much to respond and react to the situation within the context of the character and his world.

I think all great actors - and I don't classify myself as one of them, incidentally - but I think all great actors listen well and I've learned that from a lot of the very good actors with whom I've worked - to really listen to what people say.

Working with actors is something I've never done before. I find it tremendous. It's hard work.

I work a lot; I love to compose, ponder, and take notes when preparing for a role. I cut all the scenes, collate the images, form the character and shape its personality, then I make meticulous notes and transcribe each scene on my notebook.

I really don't know what I'm doing... I don't. It's terrible. I go in there and I learn how to be like the character and do the best I can, and that's all I really do.

It's been a lot of fun getting to work with Tracy Middendorf, who plays my mom. As an actor, it's always fun to have different parents and to create different familial dynamics than you have in your real life.

Creating a role is an interesting thing - each show or each situation is different.

As a director, it is important to understand the actor's process.

They did cast me as an ingenue once, and the novelty was nice. But I said, 'There is nothing here to play!' I really like getting into the meat of a role.

I've never tried to learn the art of acting. I have been in the business for years but I still can't tell what acting is or how it's done.

As an actor, I love working with directors. As much as I love working with other actors.

Good acting is consistency of performance.

I think chemistry and great acting go hand-in-hand.

I've only had good experiences with actors. Starring next to them and directing them, for the most part they're all inspiring, special people.

Acting is not a mystery. There's nothing that I know that other actors don't know. We all act, we're all actors, we all know the same thing. The only thing that separates us is experience.

I feel very privileged to have worked with a lot of outstanding actors: Alun Armstrong, Peter Mullan, Matt Smith and Andrew Garfield.

Know your lines; otherwise, have an open mind because you want to get lost in the moment. When you have talented actors and directors to work with, then it's pretty easy to do.