On February 26, 2017, Mahershala Ali became an Oscar-award winning actor. He delivered a tear-jerking acceptance speech that had us all rooting for his incredible accomplishment.
The honor was indeed the kind of crazy that aspiring artists dream about. In addition to that wave, during an interview with People, Ali shared what he refers to as “a different kind of crazy” taking place in his life now.
So, what’s he talking about? Well, days prior to film’s biggest night, Ali and his wife became the proud parents of a baby girl and shared the news on social media.
The experience has Ali glowing and gushing about his new role as a father.
“We have a baby, so it’s a different kind of crazy,” he told the publication. “It’s been great getting to know this little person whose body seems to change every day and whose awareness heightens everyday. It’s just been exciting.”
Last year saw Ali stretching his talents across numerous films and projects such as Moonlight (to which he gained an Oscar for Best Supporting Actor and made history as the first Muslim to receive the honor), Hidden Figures, Kicks, and Netflix’s Luke Cage, to name a few. Since becoming a papa, the actor has put a lot into perspective and alludes that 2017 will probably see less of him juggling multiple projects.
“When I was working on Moonlight, I was working on four or five other projects at a time, so that can’t happen again,” he reflects. “I just don’t have time to waste. You gotta be really deliberate with how you choose to spend your day because those are the moments you’re away from your child. If anything, I want to work in a more focused way and discover the right balance for my life.”
