Mahershala Ali Does Not Want To Have Sex Acts Because He Respects His Religion

Mahershala Ali in Moonlight (A24)

JAKARTA - Actor Mahershala Ali revealed the reason why he would not have sex scenes in the films he starred in.

Speaking in Common's Mind Power Mixtape, he said he refused to have sex scenes in The Curious Case of Benjamin Button out of respect for his religion.

He played Tizzy Weathers in the film and he said he did not have intimate scenes with actress Taraji P Henson who played Queenie.

"My agent at the time said 'Mahershala, you got the role' and I said 'There's one thing ... If there's one sex scene where they kiss ... if there's a kissing scene, I can't do it."

"It was then finally Taraji and I started kissing and we were knocked off the screen ... It's not clear if she crashed ... that's what I doubt."

"But for me then 15 years ago, I still felt, 'OK, I can only get here' just because I tried to respect my religion,"

Mahershala Ali became a Muslim in 1999 and told her agent that she did not do any sex-related scenes.

Ali became the first Muslim actor to win an Oscar for his role in the film Moonlight. As for. Currently Mahershala Ali is producing the film Swan Song in which he is both producer and player.