Denzel Washington Claims He’s a ‘Stage Actor’ First—Here’s Why He Rejects the Hollywood Label
OPINION: This article may contain commentary which reflects the author's opinion.
Denzel Washington, one of the most revered actors of his generation, is setting the record straight about how he views himself — and it’s not through the lens of a traditional Hollywood star. During a recent appearance on CBS’ Sunday Morning, the two-time Oscar winner, currently starring alongside Jake Gyllenhaal in Broadway’s Othello, emphasized that he doesn’t consider himself a Hollywood actor at all.
“I’m a stage actor who does film,” Washington said plainly. “It’s not the other way around. I did stage first. I learned how to act on stage, not on film.”
When host Bill Whitaker suggested the term “film actor” to define his immense cinematic success, Washington gently pushed back, underscoring his lifelong dedication to the stage. “What’s the definition of a Hollywood actor? Myself, I’m from Mt. Vernon. I’m a Mt. Vernon actor. I don’t know what ‘Hollywood’ means. I know it’s a place.”
Washington’s roots in theater are deep and enduring. Before he became a household name in film with performances in Glory, Training Day, and The Tragedy of Macbeth, he honed his craft under the bright but unforgiving lights of live theater. Over the past half-century, he’s built a career balancing both worlds — commanding Broadway stages and box-office charts with equal authority.
His latest role as the titular Moor in Othello reunites him with Kenny Leon, who directed Washington’s acclaimed Broadway productions of A Raisin in the Sun and Fences. Leon recently told The Hollywood Reporter that discussions are already underway about adapting this new Othello for the big screen — a full-circle moment for Washington, who first played Othello at 22 and now reprises the role at 70.
Though Washington’s upcoming slate is packed — including Spike Lee’s Highest 2 Lowest, Antoine Fuqua’s untitled Hannibal epic for Netflix, and a rumored role in Ryan Coogler’s next Black Panther installment — he’s made it clear he’s thinking about stepping back from film work soon.
“For me, it’s about the filmmakers,” Washington said last year. “Especially at this point in my career, I am only interested in working with the best. I don’t know how many more films I’m going to make. It’s probably not that many. I want to do things I haven’t done.”
His tentative roadmap sounds like a final act steeped in ambition: after Othello and Hannibal, collaborations with Steve McQueen and Coogler are on the horizon, followed by a film adaptation of Othello and an eventual turn as King Lear — before, as he teased, retirement.
In an era where celebrity culture often blurs into branding and image management, Washington’s words cut through the noise. He’s not interested in the glitz of Hollywood. He’s an actor, first and foremost — one who sees his greatest identity not on the screen, but on the stage, where he first found his voice and, perhaps, where he intends to finish his remarkable journey.
