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---
title: Mahershala Ali Had A Terrible Game of Thrones Audition
description: Mahershala Ali, the Moonlight star, claims a chair ruined his chance to go to Westeros
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og:title: Mahershala Ali Had a Terrible Game of Thrones Audition
og:description: The Moonlight star claims a chair ruined his chance to go to Westeros
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twitter:description: The Moonlight star claims a chair ruined his chance to go to Westeros
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# There's a Hilarious Reason Mahershala Ali Flunked His _Game of Thrones_ Audition

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by 

[Melissa Locker](https://time.com/author/melissa-locker/)


## Melissa Locker


Jan 12, 2017 7:23 PM UTC

by 

[Melissa Locker](https://time.com/author/melissa-locker/)


## Melissa Locker


Jan 12, 2017 7:23 PM UTC

Mahershala Ali is making waves for [his performance](http://time.com/4540116/barry-jenkins-moonlight-enchants/?iid=sr-link3) in the Golden Globe-winning film, [_Moonlight_](http://time.com/4626237/golden-globes-2017-moonlight-best-picture-drama/?iid=sr-link1), as well as his memorable role in [_Luke Cage_.](http://time.com/luke-cage-team/?iid=sr-link1) Casting directors across the land may be kicking themselves for not hiring him, but there’s one show that Ali knows doesn’t want him—_Game of Thrones._

Ali claims that he had a “terrible” audition for [_Game of Thrones_](http://time.com/4429346/game-of-thrones-season-7-cast-news/?iid=sr-link2)_._ “That was one of the worst auditions of my life,” said Ali, recounting the tale of his humiliating try-out on Wednesday’s _Jimmy Kimmel Live!_ . Turns out that the botched audition wasn’t entirely his fault, though.

Ali told Jimmy Kimmel that he was very prepared to audition for the role of a merchant. He had memorized all his lines and practiced what he dubbed “power moves” that would land him a job in [Westeros](http://time.com/3924852/every-game-of-thrones-death/?iid=sr-link6). All he needed to succeed was a chair. Unfortunately HBO didn’t have any chairs in the audition room and it all went downhill from there.

Luckily, Kimmel had some advice for the actor: “Bring a chair with you next time.”

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