Denzel Washington Reveals the Truth Behind His Acting Roots—Why He Sees Himself as a Stage Actor First

Denzel Washington, a two-time Academy Award winner known for his powerful film performances in Glory and Training Day, has strongly rejected claims that he is a “Hollywood actor.” Despite his success in the film industry, Washington insists that his roots as a stage actor are what define him, not his career in Hollywood.

In a recent interview on CBS’ Sunday Mornings, the acclaimed actor was quick to push back against the suggestion that he is a product of Hollywood. “What’s the definition of a Hollywood actor?” Washington asked during the conversation. “Myself, I’m from Mt. Vernon, so I’m a ‘Mt. Vernon actor,'” he remarked, referencing his hometown in New York. His answer was both a deflection and a subtle assertion of his identity, emphasizing that his heritage and early career in theater were his primary influences.

Washington, who won an Oscar for Glory (Best Supporting Actor) and another for Training Day (Best Leading Actor), made it clear that his focus has always been on the stage. “I’m a stage actor who does film; it’s not the other way around. I did stage first. I learned how to act on stage, not on film,” he explained. This distinction between stage and film acting has been central to Washington’s career, even as he has achieved immense success on the big screen.

He went on to explain the key difference between acting in theater and 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,” he said. “Theatre is an actor’s medium. The curtain goes up, nobody can help you.” Washington’s comparison highlights his belief in the immediacy and rawness of live theater, where the actor’s performance is front and center, unaffected by post-production manipulation.

Currently, Washington is starring in a Broadway adaptation of William Shakespeare’s Othello, opposite Jake Gyllenhaal. The stage remains a place where he feels most at home, and he continues to return to it, even as his film career remains robust. He has also expressed his intentions to keep contributing to cinema, noting plans to collaborate with director Steve McQueen on a film, make an appearance in the next Black Panther, and take on the role of King Lear, followed by a movie adaptation of Othello before retiring.

While Hollywood continues to define his career, Washington’s commitment to the stage offers a refreshing perspective on an actor’s versatility. Rejecting the “Hollywood actor” label, Washington reminds us that his journey began on the stage, where the power of performance is in the hands of the actor and not the filmmakers.