Mahershala Ali says he thought winning two Oscars would finally change his career, but he still had to ask to be the lead on True Detective Ali: “I’ve only had one project in seven years that has been a no brainer, and I haven’t got to do that one yet.” “I thought especially after winning two... I was like, ‘It’s going to break now,’ you know? But I’m asking to be the lead on True Detective. I’m asking. It wasn’t, ‘Oh, here you go.’” “There’s sort of a relief in the epiphany of like, ‘Oh, ain’t nobody coming to save you.’ You got to build your boat. They’re not coming. There ain’t no helicopter coming.” Interviewer: “The golden ticket wasn’t ultimately a golden ticket.” Ali: “Yeah. I mean, it was two cool statues.”