Actor Mahershala Ali Refuses To Accept Roles W/ Sex Scenes Out Of Respect For His Religion

Actor Mahershala Ali Refuses To Accept Roles W/ Sex Scenes Out Of Respect For His Religion

Mahershala Ali is a household name thanks to his award-winning acting roles. But one thing we won’t see him do is get too intimate in front of the camera.

While serving as a guest on Common’s podcast Mind Power Mixtape, he explained that he would never do a love scene because of his Islamic beliefs.

He recalled his previous role in 2008’s The Curious Case of Benjamin Button and his love scene with actress Taraji P. Henson. 

Taraji P. Henson

“So my old agent called me and said, ‘Mahershala, you got the part.’ And I said, ‘There’s just one thing… There is that one sex scene where they kiss… If there’s a sex scene, I can’t do it.'”

He added:

“I don’t do simulated sex.”

He said he was able to take on the part as director David Fincher helped him maintain his morals.

“Taraji and I begin to kiss, and we fall out of the frame… It wasn’t clear if [Fincher] was trying to have like some bumping and grinding … which I doubt he was.”

He continued:

“But for me even … at that time, 15 years ago, I was still like, ‘OK, I can only go up to this point,’ just because of — just trying to hold a space of respect for my religion.”

That certainly hasn’t halted his career. He later starred in Moonlight in 2016, which went on to win an Oscar for Best Picture.

What are your thoughts on Mahershala Ali’s policy? Comment and let us know.