Denzel Washington is one of the most famous stars alive today. Indeed, he has won two Oscars, three Golden Globes, and many other awards as well. That’s why it’s come as a surprise that Washington, 70, has revealed in a new interview that he doesn’t see himself as a “Hollywood actor.”
This admission comes as we’ve seen dozens of celebrities leave California altogether.
Washington Doesn’t See Himself As A ‘Hollywood Actor’
“What’s the definition of a Hollywood actor? Myself, I’m from Mount Vernon, so I’m a ‘Mount Vernon actor,’” Washington recently said while being interviewed on CBS Sunday Morning.
This was seemingly a reference to Washington’s hometown in New York.
“I don’t know what ‘Hollywood’ means,” Washington continued. “Somebody who’s famous on film? A film actor, great success on film?”
Instead of identifying as a “Hollywood actor,” Washington sees himself as a “stage actor.” And he certainly has the chops to make that claim.
He’s currently starring in a Broadway production of the Shakespeare play Othello alongside the Oscar-nominated star Jake Gyllenhaal. This marks Washington’s first time returning to Broadway since 1982. Despite this, Washington still sees himself as a “stage actor” first.
“I’m a stage actor who does film; it’s not the other way around,” the Gladiator II star explained. “I did stage first. I learned how to act on stage, not on film. Movies are a filmmaker’s medium. You shoot it, and then you’re gone, and they cut together and add music and do all of that. Theater is an actor’s medium. The curtain goes up, nobody can help you.”
Watch Washington talk more about this in the video below.
Washington’s History
Washington initially fell in love with acting while training at the American Conservatory Theater. He then performed in several off-Broadway theater productions before landing his breakthrough role in the medical television drama St. Elsewhere in 1982. Once that show ended in 1988, Washington was able to break into the film world.
Washington may not identify as a “Hollywood actor,” but he certainly has had a ton of success in Hollywood. He’s won two Oscars, winning Best Supporting Actor in 1990 for Glory. He later won Best Actor in 2002 for Training Day. In total, Washington has been nominated for ten Oscars. Most recently, he was nominated for an Oscar for Best Actor in 2022 for The Tragedy of Macbeth.
Washington’s Strong Christian Faith
When he’s not acting, Washington devotes much of his time to his strong Christian faith. Back in December, he became a minister and was baptized by Bishop James Pullings Jr. at the Kelly Temple in New York City.
“It took a while, but I’m finally here…If [God] can do this for me, there’s nothing He can’t do for you,” Washington said in a video posted to social media. “The sky literally is the limit.”
Esther Renee Burns Pullings, the bishop’s wife, then shared photos of this emotional moment to her Facebook page.
“A beautiful service we had today at The Historic Kelly Temple Church of God in Christ,” she wrote alongside the images. “We witnessed our Bishop James Pullings Jr. baptizing now Minister Denzel Washington today To God Be The Glory!”
Full Story: At 69, Denzel Washington Gets Baptized and Becomes a Minister
Washington Despises Hollywood’s View On Faith
Meanwhile, much of Washington’s aversion to being described as a “Hollywood actor” might stem to his religion. Indeed, he has previously complained that people “can’t talk” about their faith in Hollywood.
“When you see me, you see the best I could do with what I’ve been given by my lord and savior,” Washington said last year. “I’m unafraid.”
“I don’t care what anyone thinks,” he added at the time. “See, talking about the fear part of it – you can’t talk like that and win Oscars. You can’t talk like that and party. You can’t say that in this town.”
“I’m free now. It’s not talked about in this town,” Washington stated. He went on to lament that it’s “not talked about. It’s not talked about, it’s not fashionable, it’s not sexy. But that doesn’t mean people in Hollywood don’t believe. There’s no such thing called Hollywood anyway. What does that even mean? That to me means a street called Hollywood Boulevard.”
Perhaps it’s not surprising after all that Washington refuses to identify as a “Hollywood actor.” In the end, we can certainly see why a devout man of God like Washington would want to avoid Hollywood as much as possible!
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