Denzel Washington, the actor who never watches his own films and shuns fame

“I think I’m a good guy. I always try to do the right thing.” That’s how Denzel Washington defines himself. The actor, born in Mount Vernon, New York, recently celebrated his 70th birthday. With more than five decades of experience, he stands as one of the finest actors of his generation. As the decade shifts, Washington is embracing new challenges, aiming to further extend his legacy not only in cinema but also on Broadway, where he is set to premiere his fifth play.

Washington has made headlines again for his role in Gladiator II, the sequel to the 2000 film, starring Paul Mescal and Pedro Pascal. His involvement in the film’s intense promotion has given the public a deeper glimpse into the man behind the roles he plays, offering new insights into his personal life.

In a candid report published by Esquire magazine in November, Washington opened up about his past struggles with alcohol. “Wine was my thing, and now I was popping $4,000 bottles just because that’s what was left,” he confessed, while revealing that he has been sober for 10 years, a decision he made when he turned 60. “I’ve done a lot of damage to the body,” he admitted, but now he’s committed to a healthier lifestyle. “This is the last chapter — if I get another 30, what do I want to do? My mother made it to ninety-seven. I’m doing the best I can.”

He credits much of his success to his mother, Lennis Washington. The now award-winning actor grew up in Mount Vernon, a suburb of New York, where he often found himself in the wrong crowd. It was his mother who took a decisive step to change his path: she sent him to a strict military academy to distance him from the neighborhood friends who were a bad influence.

“I had tested well in school, but I had one foot in the streets. I can’t remember if I was already selling drugs at that point,” he recalled in Esquire. During the summer months, he worked at the ice cream parlor his mother ran, which allowed him to earn money without resorting to illegal activities, a temptation he was already beginning to flirt with.

It was at this military academy that he discovered a passion that would eventually lead to him being named the best actor of the 21st century by The New York Times. There, he took his first acting and theater classes. His big break came with St. Elsewhere (1982-1988), the only television series he’s ever starred in during his long career. His role as one of the most beloved doctors on the small screen was enough to open the doors of Hollywood.

In his five decades of work, Washington has skillfully balanced action roles with those that have earned him major award nominations. He has avoided being pigeonholed, evolving toward projects that not only increased his earnings but also confirmed his versatility as an actor. Awarded two Oscars — Best Supporting Actor for Glory (1989) and Best Actor for Training Day (2001) — Washington believes there’s no difference between student productions and $250 million films.

“There’s no difference. You’re still on set. You’re still just acting,” he told The Times. His recent role in Gladiator II has once again positioned him as a potential nominee for Best Supporting Actor, which could mark his 10th Oscar nomination. The announcement on January 17 will reveal whether he is nominated for his third statuette, this time for his role as Macrinus in his latest movie.

His work speaks for itself, and critics stand behind him, but Washington has kept a humble profile for decades. He doesn’t boast about his fame and has stayed grounded. Indeed, Washington has admitted he doesn’t watch his own movies. “I haven’t watched any film from my past from start to finish, not even Malcolm X. All you see is what you did wrong. Also why would you do it anyway?” he told The Times.

While it’s said that all of Washington’s movies are hits, he doesn’t share that view. “After Malcolm X I made some real clunkers. Look them up — I won’t say their names. They are all in the 1990s. But I was earning. I had responsibilities,” he shared.

Washington explains that during the 1990s, his sole objective was on earning money to support a large family. “If your life is 90 years long, up until 30 you learn and from 30 to 60 you earn. So in that era I was earning. With a great agent, my career built into making money,” he reflects.

Regardless of whether the films were good or bad, they helped him become one of the highest-paid actors in the world, with a net worth exceeding $300 million, according to Celebrity Net Worth.

He has never been confined to one type of character and continues to seek roles that challenge him. However, he adheres to a personal rule in every performance: he avoids intimate scenes or those involving little clothing. He values his privacy, a principle he has made clear by steering clear from social media. Preferring to keep a low profile, he wants to be recognized solely for his work.

Recently, as his name has made headlines in relation to his personal life, he made a surprising decision. On Saturday, December 21, just one week before turning 70, he chose to be baptized in a ceremony streamed live on Facebook. “It took a while, but I’m here,” he said during the mass, where he was surrounded by his family.

Washington met the love of his life during his first acting job. Pauletta Pearson — now Pauletta Washington — had a small role in Wilma (1977), but their romance didn’t begin on set. It was a mutual friend who reintroduced them later, and their relationship blossomed from there. They married in 1983, after Washington proposed to her three times. Together, they have four children: John David, 40, Katia, 37, Malcolm, 33, and Olivia, 33, all of whom have also pursued careers in the industry. The most well-known of them is John David Washington, who starred in Tenet (2020).

“I told them they have to get on the stage because that’s where you learn to act. You don’t learn to act on TV. You don’t learn to act in movies. You learn to act on stage,” says Washington

A close friend of Will Smith, Washington became an involuntary protagonist of one of the most talked-about moments of 2022: Smith slapping Chris Rock during that year’s Oscars ceremony. The incident quickly went viral, thrusting the Pursuit of Happyness actor into the center of controversy. Washington was one of the first to approach Smith, offering some wise advice that also made headlines: “At your highest moment be careful, that’s when the devil comes for you.”

Some time after the incident, Washington reflected on how he supported Smith. “We said some prayers. I don’t want to say what we talked about,” he told bishop T.D. Jakes’ leadership summit, according to Variety. “I don’t know all the ins and outs of the situation, but I know the only solution was prayer, the way I see it.”

This year is shaping up to be a promising one for Washington. Next February, he will star in William Shakespeare’s tragedy Othello on Broadway, alongside Jake Gyllenhaal. In this way, Washington is returning to his roots, having first played the role of Othello at the age of 22. With weeks still to go until opening night, nearly all performances have already sold out, even with ticket prices reaching up to $1,000.

Washington is clear about his goals for the coming years. Focused on supporting his family, he intends to remain the talk of the town through his work until the time comes to officially say goodbye. That moment may not be far off, as he admitted in an August interview with Empire: “There are very few films left for me to make that I’m interested in.”

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