'Moonlight' script "felt so human" Mahershala Ali actually "cried"

Mahershala Ali, who recently picked up a Golden Globe nomination for his work in 'Moonlight', probably knew from the start that the film was something special as soon as he read the script.

"I was blown away," the 42-year-old star told E! Online, "I actually cried a couple of times because it was just so beautiful on paper. It was a tough read but you could really connect with the characters. It felt so human."

Ali plays the role of a local drug dealer who becomes a father figure to an elementary school boy Chiron, who is growing up in impoverished Miami to adulthood as he struggles to accept his sexuality as well as live with a mother who is addicted to crack.

The movie picked up a total of six nominations including one for best picture for 'Golden Globe Award' 2017.

"I think Moonlight reminds me that we need to be supportive of people coming to terms with who they are and in their own time. We need to be supportive of people's journeys of their own self-realization," Ali said.

Starring Ashton Sanders, Naomie Harris, Janelle Monae, Trevon Rhodes, Alex R. Hibbert and Andre Holland, 'Moonlight' is in theaters now.