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And then suddenly Im earning money playing characters that share power with God.
Being a baby Muslim at the time, I was very literal about it as a working professional.
I can play a role thats intimate, but do we need to be bumping and grinding?
Can we take a more modest approach to that?
In 2006 I was working with [David] Fincher onThe Curious Case of Benjamin Button.
There was this one scene where I said, Well, Ill do it on one condition.
I just want to check that that this is not a sex scene.
And shes like, Youll never work.
Youll never be a lead.
I felt that way about it.
I didnt say that to her, but it didnt shake me.
And now you could call her and be like, Well guess what?
I got to be onRamy.Yes [laughs].
Which Im so excited about, by the way.
When I moved to L.A., the mosque was my spot.
Thats how I met people.
And you found out about Islam at a mosque in Pennsylvania, in Philly.
What does it feel like now?
Everybody being equal, no ego.
But the nature of our job means theres a camera on us and everything we do.
Were not following a car salesman around and being like, Nuh-uh, you hugged that woman.
Youre in the prayer space and someones taking a photo of you during the prayers.During Jummah!
During the Khutbah, sometimes.
And Im like, Whoa, this is my safest space.
Were always being hired to go blow something up, to be caught, you know?
I find myself going to Jummah and leaving Jummah.
I respect it, but I found that as an introvert, it makes me way more introverted.
In those conversations, I find myself being less present because Im so much more protected.
And this isnt me just thinking about it in my head people are literally whispering.
When the Imam finishes talking, someone turns me like, Yo, can we take a photo?
So then I start feeling like, does my presence throw off the spiritual experience of somebody else?
The only thing is to find a home for yourself, a mosque you always go to.
And then theyre disappointed that youre just a regular dude, and Ill live in that place.
And then theyre like, Oh, hes shorter than I thought he was.
And youre like Aww, come on, man.
]We talked a little bit about this before, but it is not enjoyable to be humbled.
Its like, if you have a great rookie season, theyre out there ready for you.
Im sure youve always been afraid.
Im very measured and thoughtful about the things that I commit to doing.
It doesnt mean I only commit to doing things I know I can do.
If anything, I always do things Im not sure I can do.
When Im a little nervous, thats what I should be working on.
The fear and anxiety increases, but your confidence should also have increased as well.
When youve got more space to make decisions, you probably have more of everything else, too.
Its made me slower.
Its made me more conscious.
Ive always been in prayer on every set.
Honestly, I dont do anything without praying.
Ive been in press runs fromGreen BooktoMoonlightand theyre like, So howd you prepare?
And I might be saying, Yeah, I did this, that, and the other.
I studied this, I read that, I made the mixtape.
And to keep it way real with you, I just prayed, bro, thats all I did.
Honestly, Im like, God, help me make this real.
Thats what I do.
This interview has been edited and condensed.
