Ali trained at Mountview Academy of Performing Arts.  

Theatre work includes: Local Hero (Chichester Festival Theatre), The James Plays, Macbeth, Black Watch (National Theatre of Scotland), Fibres (Stellar Quines/Citizens Theatre), Lost At Sea (Perth Theatre/ Horsecross Arts), 306: Dusk (National Theatre of Scotland/Perth Theatre), BFG, Hecuba, Victoria (Dundee Rep), Beautiful Burnout (Frantic Assembly), Hamlet (Greenwich Theatre), Waterproof (Òran Mór), The Rocky Horror Show (Ballet Classic & Entertainment), The Secret Garden (Footlights Productions).  

TV credits include: Armchair Detectives (Tiger Aspect), Doctors, Trust Me, Shetland, Sea Of Souls, Monarch of the Glen (BBC), Outlander (Starz/Left Bank Pictures), River (Kudos). 

Film credits: Ribbons (X Industries Ltd), May I Kill You (Cyclops Vision), Outpost: Black Sun (Black Camel), Weekender (Benchmark Films), Pelican Blood (Ecosse Films), The Making of Us (Imagine Films), ...And Repeat (Little Viking Productions), Sex Symbols In Sandwich Signs (EAF). 

Radio credits: Keeping Mum, Topaz, McLevy, Black Watch (BBC).