Five

Throughout the season, Mahershalalhashbaz Ali will be responding to questions submitted by viewers like you. Visit Mahershalalhashbaz's Ask the Cast page to submit your question now. Then be sure to return to this page to see if your question got answered - new questions and answers will be posted throughout the season!

Q: Of all the Richard and Lily scenes so far, which has been your favorite?
- Demelza, New Zealand

MA: My favorite Lily and Richard scene thus far would have to be the arrest at the gas station. High stakes; a climactic point on a journey full of climactic points.

Q: Do you believe your role may help others change their way of thinking about interracial couples?
- Sherry, Birmingham, Alabama

MA: The magic of art, entertainment, and storytelling is the power to influence. It's a gift we have to be very responsible with. I believe Richard and Lily are telling the age-old story of love for the sake of love. If an audience embraces this television family, and supports them through their trials and achievements having previously been intolerant towards the idea, there is clearly another small step towards the reality of oneness.

Q: Are you practicing the faith associated with your name? If so, how do you deal with any possible conflicts that come up with your personal beliefs and your career?
- J. Abdur Rasheed Asaad, Bay Area, Northern California

MA: Whatever religion one chooses to follow, be it Hinduism, Buddhism, Judaism, Christianity, Islam, etc., it's a conscious choice to improve oneself through the direction and order provided by that belief system. So something founded on the basis of enlightenment can often conflict with something created to entertain. When conflicts arise with my moral boundaries, I have to take a close look at the character's intentions within that particular story and my personal intentions, which will make my creative offering worthy or unworthy of a higher acceptance.

Q: What other shows/movies have you done?
Danyel, Utah

MA: Most of my work has been in television. I appeared on "Crossing Jordan" and "Threat Matrix" as a series regular, and on "NYPD Blue," "CSI," and "The Handler" as a guest star.

Q: Is there a role that you've dreamt of playing, and if so what would it be?
- LaVaughn, San Diego, CA

MA: There are really two: Marvin Gaye and Olympic hurdler Edwin Moses.