Mahershala Aliis taking home the iconic gold statue!
The 45-year-old actor won the Oscar for Best Supporting Actor forGreen Bookon Sunday night.
The star was up against Adam Driver,BlacKkKlansman; Sam Elliott,A Star Is Born; Richard E. Grant,Can You Ever Forgive Me?; and Sam Rockwell,Vice.
“The Academy, thank you. I want to thank Doctor Shirley, for just trying to capture his essence,” he said in his speech. “Trying to capture Dr. Shirley’s essence pushed me to my ends and it’s the reflection of the person he was and the life he lived. I thank him.”
Ali also thanked his costar, Viggo Mortensen, saying, “I thank my partner Viggo. It was extraordinary working with you. [Director] Peter Farrelly, thank you for your leadership and your guidance and for also giving us space — really giving us space to work it out and coming in and tweaking. Really appreciate it and love you. [Executive producer] Octavia Spencer. Kris Bowers, my double.”
The actor also thanked his grandmother, saying, “I want to dedicate this to my grandmother, who has been in my ear my entire life, telling me if at first I don’t succeed, try, try again. That I could put anything I put my mind to. Always pushing me to think positively and I know I would not be here without her, she has gotten me over the hump every step of the way. I thank my wife, my daughter Bari, I thank Universal, Participant, Amblin, everyone that contributed with helping with our movie. Again, thank you so much.”
This is Ali’s second Oscar nomination and second win. He won the Oscar for Best Supporting Actor in 2017 for his role inMoonlight.
Kevin Winter/Getty
ForGreen Book, he’s already won a Golden Globe and SAG Award for his performance.
RELATED VIDEO: See How Viggo Mortensen Transformed into His Oscar-Nominated Role of Tony Lip in Green Book
Be sure to check outPEOPLE’s full Oscars coverageto get the latest news on film’s biggest night.
He also starred in the third season of HBO’s hit crime seriesTrue Detective.
source: people.com
