Mahershala Ali Pays Tribute to 'Green Book' Costar Viggo Mortensen in SAG Award Win: 'You Make Me Better'

"Viggo, it's been an honor going on this journey with you. Such a beautiful actor and person," Mahershala Ali said in his acceptance speech. "You make me better"

Congrats are in order for Mahershala Ali!

He took home the award for outstanding performance by a male actor in a supporting role for Green Book.

“SAG, thank you for this. Timothée [Chalamet], Adam [Driver], Richard [E. Grant], Sam [Elliott] — thank you for your work,” Ali said, acknowledging the other actors in his category. “The more I’m fortunate and blessed to do this work, the more I realize how much I need all of you in this room to get my inspirations from. Viggo, it’s been an honor going on this journey with you. Such a beautiful actor and person. You make me better.”

Ai, 44, also thanked his wife Amatus Sami-Karim and their 23-month-old daughter Bari Najma.

The movie tells the story of Dr. Don Shirley, a black jazz pianist on tour in the 1960s Deep South portrayed by Ali, and his driver Tony Lip, played by Mortensen.

The 23rd Annual Screen Actors Guild Awards - Show
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Ali has already received plenty of accolades for his supporting performance, including a BAFTA nomination and an Academy Award nomination, both of which are pending — and he already took home the Golden Globe earlier this month.

During his acceptance speech, he thanked his fellow nominees and his costar.

Film Title: Green Book
Mahershala Ali and Viggo Mortensen in Green Book. Patti Perret/Universal

“Viggo, you are an extraordinary scene partner,” Ali said. “You pushed me every day, no days off. Even the days off weren’t days off. Thank you, brother, I love you.”

In the past, the actor has won a SAG Award for his role in Moonlight and as part of the Hidden Figures cast. He also won the Oscar for the Barry Jenkins-directed film.

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