Green Book star Ali is given his very own Technicolor dreamcoat
MAHERSHALA ALI, star of Green Book, a film about the friendship between classical pianist Dr Donald Shirley and an Italian chauffeur and bouncer called Tony Vallelonga (aka Tony Lip), was chuffed to be given a garment the musician often wore when performing.
‘It must be from West Africa,’ said Mr Ali, as he examined the woollen, robe-style coat that Michiel Kappeyne, the executor of Dr Shirley’s estate, had given him in a rear section of Wolfgang Puck’s Spago in Beverly Hills on Wednesday night.
The restaurant was the scene of a soiree, hosted by Universal Pictures and Focus Features, for their Oscar-nominated films that, in addition to Green Book, included BlacKkKlansman, First Man and Mary Queen Of Scots.
‘The colours suggest it’s probably from Nigeria,’ Green Book’s costume designer Betsy Heimann observed, looking at the robe’s rustic colouring.
I concurred — not really having a clue, I must admit; but because I remembered my father wore similar shades in his coronation gown.
Ali said that his own father had bequeathed him robes of a similar hue. The actor, who won a supporting Oscar for Moonlight in 2017, is nominated for his portrayal of Dr Shirley. His co-star Viggo Mortensen has a best actor citation for his Tony Lip.
Ali’s strongest rival for the trophy is Richard E. Grant, who has been having the time of his life since being nominated for playing the forger’s accomplice in Can You Ever Forgive Me? I rather overstuffed myself with the delicate cones filled with tuna tartare and caviar, and slices of chicken pizza. But if people are kind enough to pass it around, watchyagonna do?