‘It Was Terrible!’ – Denzel Washington Reveals the Film He Refused to Star In and Why It Saved His Career!

Few actors in modern Hollywood command the respect and star power of Denzel Washington. With a career spanning decades, he is one of the rare talents who can single-handedly elevate a film to critical and box office success. But long before the Oscars and leading roles, Washington faced the same career uncertainties and temptations that confront so many young actors trying to break into the industry.

Washington’s journey began on the stage, where he earned early praise but struggled to make the leap to film. A recurring role on the television series St. Elsewhere gave him a much-needed foothold in the business and led to small but meaningful film opportunities. His second movie, A Soldier’s Story—directed by the revered Norman Jewison—provided valuable exposure. This was followed by Power, a political drama helmed by Sidney Lumet. Though not a critical hit, the film earned Washington an NAACP Image Award and allowed him to work with another industry legend.

Yet, success didn’t come overnight. Hollywood, as Washington soon discovered, was just as ready to pigeonhole a young Black actor as it was to embrace his talent. In a 2012 interview with The Talks, Washington revealed the lowest point: a movie script with an offensive title and premise. “One of them I called The Ni**er They Couldn’t Kill,” he recounted. “It was terrible.” The producers attempted to pass it off as a comedy, and the money was tempting, but Washington was deeply uneasy. “They were going to pay me a lot of money, and I really thought about it,” he admitted. “But I didn’t do it.”

The decision was a turning point in his career and, as it turned out, a blessing. Just six months later, Washington landed the role of South African activist Steve Biko in Richard Attenborough’s Cry Freedom, a film that would earn him his first Oscar nomination and introduce him to audiences worldwide as an actor of substance and conviction.

Washington credits the wisdom of his hero, Sidney Poitier, for steering him away from easy money and easy pitfalls. “Sidney Poitier told me many, many years ago that the first four or five movies that you do will determine how you’re perceived in the business,” he said. The lesson stuck, guiding his choices and shaping a career defined by integrity and impact. “That’s what I tell young actors. You don’t have to compromise. Go do some theatre and wait.”

For Denzel Washington, waiting—and refusing to compromise—made all the difference. Today, his story serves as a powerful reminder that the roles you turn down can be just as important as the ones you take.