Denzel Washington on family, faith and film

What do you think your strengths are as an actor? I don’t analyze myself. I put it out there, and it’s up to the people to interpret it. I keep it simple; try to continue my spiritual quest. Do you think of yourself as a spiritual person? Definitely. I read the Bible every day. I’m […]

What do you think your strengths are as an actor?

I don’t analyze myself. I put it out there, and it’s up to the people to interpret it. I keep it simple; try to continue my spiritual quest.

Do you think of yourself as a spiritual person?

Definitely. I read the Bible every day. I’m in my second pass-through now, in the Book of John. My pastor told me to start with the New Testament, so I did, maybe two years ago. Worked my way through it, then through the Old Testament. Now I’m back in the New Testament. It’s better the second time around.

Do you ever see a conflict in Hollywood, Godless Hollywood, as a spiritual person?

Well, wait a minute. Stop. That’s broad. Godless Hollywood? What is that? First of all, Hollywood is a part of Los Angeles, not a way of thinking. When you say Godless Hollywood, are you including me? Are you saying everybody in Hollywood is Godless? No such thing, right? I think it’s easy to generalize. Let’s be specific. We say Godless Hollywood, then we make an assumption that that’s true. It’s not true.

Well, people talk about the violence, the sex—if you watch HBO—in Hollywood.

Those things happen everywhere. In politics, in war, at the post office. Not just in Hollywood.

Do your spiritual philosophies influence the roles you play?

I think I’m going to instill it in everything I do, like this conversation. It’s who I am. It goes with me wherever I go. Understand that it’s something bigger than making a film, even American Gangster. When I met Frank Lucas [the drug kingpin the movie is based on], he said, “Do this and win an Oscar.” I’m like, “Frank, I’m not in it for that.” I found it interesting that he paid for his crimes with jail time, and now he’s paying with his body, which has sort of betrayed him. It’s important for me to tell that part of the story. There are consequences.

Is there one project in you that you feel is your ultimate dream?

No. There are some stories I want to tell, but I got a great life, period. My ultimate life dream project is my kids. My family.

What’s your parenting style?

If you have kids, you know there is no style! It’s a hybrid. It’s what my wife and I learned from our parents, and applying religious instruction, discipline, athletic activity and academic excellence whenever possible. My wife’s done a great job. She’s been the consistent one, just trying to give them a normal life.

Do you think it’s hard to live up to a dad like Denzel Washington?

Well, they don’t know anything different. When my oldest boy was about 14, I started to talk to him about some of the mistakes I made in life, just to put a few dents in that shiny armor.

Why did you want to make ‘The Great Debaters?’

The little train that could, the little guy up against the big guys.

It’s your second time directing. What’s the appeal?

I like seeing other people do well. I enjoy finding young kids and sharing what I know with them. I like the collaboration. Also, I’m looking down the line. Clint Eastwood is my hero. This guy just seamlessly segued from one career to another.

Your father was a minister. What kind of man was he?

A gentleman. A real gentle man. A devout Christian. A spirit-filled man, hardworking, low-key, consistent.

Did he play catch with you? Was he a fun dad?

No, he wasn’t that guy, but I got all that out of my system in the Boys & Girls Club.

Who were you closer with? Your mother or your father?

I think most boys are closer with their mothers. And like myself nowadays, he was working all day. We didn’t see him. He had one job, I think, from 6 to 12. He’d have a couple hours off, come home, then he’d work his night job. He probably put in 18, 20 hours a day.

What is the secret to a 30-year marriage?

Do whatever your wife tells you. Yes, dear. And breathe.

What happens to a relationship after 15, 20 years? Does it change?

Everything changes. It happens after 15 or 20 days.

How has the onion opened for you two?

I think it hopefully ends where it starts, which is friendship. And obviously, respect. Understanding our—for lack of a better word—roles. And just getting on with it. Commitment.

How do you get through the hard times?

You have faith. And discipline as well. You have to work at it. I was just reading today: One day you’re going to have to walk with God when you can’t understand where he’s taking you. [Laughs] Your techniques, skill set and connections won’t get you through. So don’t try this on your own.

Have you experienced prejudice?

Sure, absolutely. But I’m a positive person, so I don’t get bogged down with it. If you’re expecting that, if you wallow in that, if you practice that, then you’ll attract what you fear.

People look at you and say you have everything. Do you struggle?

Struggle? I’m a believer in positive words. You can create your reality. I’d just as soon say I’m doing great. And getting better. I’m looking upward. It’s just my nature.

Do you feel like a success?

I don’t know what that word means. I’m happy, but success, that goes back to what in somebody’s eyes success means. For me, success is inner peace. That’s a good day for me.

How do you deal with fame?

It isn’t about me. The one thing for me, understanding how I understand God, is that it keeps me humble, keeps the pronouns out of the picture. I’ve been given certain abilities, and I look at it this way: What are you going to do with what you have? Who are you going to lift up?

You’re a national spokesman for the Boys & Girls Club, and you and your wife work with a number of charities. Why have you gotten so involved?

It’s what the Bible teaches. It’s the right thing to do. And it’s selfish. There’s a lot of gratification in knowing that you help people. We realize how blessed we are and feel a responsibility to share.

What’s one thing you’d change about yourself?

My weight! Mind, body and spirit. It’s a discipline, and the body has been lagging. Mind’s really good right now. Spirit is strong, but body’s been lagging. And the body helps the mind. I feel better today having worked out.

Does mortality give you pause?

No. No. No. Nope. As the old folks used to say, ‘You’re born to dead’. It’s a part of life. So you might as well get used to it.

What are you most proud of?

God, family, work. When our children were born, I was like, my work used to be my life. Now my work is making a living. They’re life. My children are. So what I am proudest of is all of the above. In that order.

How would you like to be remembered?

I don’t think in those terms. I’m too busy living life.

What’s on your iPod?

A buddy—not to name-drop—is Lenny Kravitz. I have all his stuff. All of James Brown, the Beatles, the Rolling Stones, everything from blues to gospel to jazz. More than 5,000 songs.

What’s your first memory of being onstage?

I was around 7, 8, whatever I was. We did a talent show at the Boys Club. Me and another guy, Wayne Bridges—God rest his soul—he’s the father of Chris Bridges, Ludacris. We decided to be the Beatles. So we went to John’s Bargain Store and bought fake guitars and wigs and did “I Want to Hold Your Hand.”

What is the first movie that you recall?

King Kong. The Wizard of Oz was a big one. I remember Caged, these women in prison. I liked that one. But I wasn’t a movie buff. Never thought about the movies. When I was in my teens, it was movies like Shaft or Superfly. I wanted to be like those guys. But I never thought about being an actor, ever. I wanted to be Jim Brown or Gale Sayers, not Sidney Poitier. When I started acting, there weren’t any big black movie stars. There was a little Billy Dee Williams and some Richard Pryor. That was it.

Are there any roles you’ve turned down that you regret?

Seven and Michael Clayton. With Clayton, it was the best material I had read in a long time, but I was nervous about a first-time director, and I was wrong. It happens.

About your first job.

I was a paperboy. I was maybe nine. I faded on that quick. There’s no money in it. I was 11 or so when I started in the barbershop. That was great theater. Professional liars in a barbershop. There were a lot of father figures in there. I was there with grown men. You know, saying grown-men things. Listening to men talk and lie. I learned to hustle. If you came in, I looked at you like money. Okay, you’ve got good shoes? You might have a few dollars. I had a little side hustle where you brought your clothes on Saturday; I’d take them to the cleaners and deliver them at the end of the day. Fifty cents here, a dollar there. I was 13 and buying my own clothes. Working in that barbershop, learning how to tell stories…I learned how to act. [laughs] I miss it. I really dug that independence. My oldest daughter—I see her digging her independence. She doesn’t like me talking about it, but she’s working with Tarantino.

Would you ever go into politics?

No. I’m an independent. In some ways I’m liberal, and other ways I’m conservative. We get so locked in on “you have to be this or that.” It’s ridiculous. I’m not a liberal or a conservative completely. Who is? Or why do you have to be? You assess the pros, the cons, of both sides and you make an intelligent decision.

Sources: rd.com and gq.com