The Gladiator of Acting: Denzel Washington | A Second Look Podcast

Bill Whitaker's admiration for Denzel Washington and introduction to Gladiator 2

• Bill Whitaker is a journalist who has been working for 60 Minutes for the past 10 years, and he considers his job to be wonderful as he gets to meet interesting people and visit new places (27s).
• Denzel Washington is one of the interesting people Bill has spoken with, and he ranks high among the people Bill has interviewed (37s).
• Bill is a fan of the first Gladiator film and has recently re-watched it, and Denzel Washington is set to appear in the new Gladiator 2 film, playing the role of Macist, an ex-gladiator who wants to control Rome (1m0s).
• Bill interviewed Denzel Washington in 2016, and Denzel's reaction to his work being recognized is that it's all part of the job, and he's happy to be sitting down for an interview with 60 Minutes (1m40s).
• Denzel Washington has appeared on 60 Minutes three times in a 16-year span, which is unusual for a major star, and Bill attributes this to Denzel's exceptional talent as an actor (1m50s).
• Paul Mescal, who stars opposite Denzel Washington in Gladiator 2, describes working with Denzel as thrilling and unexpected, and praises Denzel's ability to bring a unique twist to his characters (2m39s).
• Denzel Washington's performance style is described as magnetic and compelling, making audiences want to watch him even when playing menacing characters, as seen in his roles in Training Day and Gladiator 2 (3m30s).

Denzel Washington's career and recognition

• The New York Times has hailed Denzel Washington as the greatest actor of the 21st century, and 60 Minutes has found archival footage of Denzel's interviews that never aired, including conversations about his early career and experiences as a Black actor in Hollywood (3m41s).
• In a 25-year-old interview with Ed Bradley, Denzel Washington discussed his early career, including his experiences working with veteran film directors and his desire to take on more romantic roles (3m59s).
• Denzel Washington has also spoken about his admiration for trailblazing Black actors like Sidney Poitier, but prefers not to be compared to them, instead wanting to forge his own path in the industry (4m31s).
• Denzel Washington is an iconic actor, producer, and director who shares his craft and insights in a discussion that offers a unique perspective on his work (4m46s).

Denzel Washington's early career and interviews with Ed Bradley

• In 1999, 60 Minutes correspondent Ed Bradley interviewed Denzel Washington in a boxing ring, where Washington was promoting his film "The Hurricane" and training for the role of Ruben Hurricane Carter (5m8s).
• Ed Bradley was known for his decency, curiosity, and care for people's stories, which made him a unique journalist who could get to the essence of his subjects (6m34s).
• Denzel Washington was promoting "The Hurricane" in 1999, a film in which he played the wrongfully convicted fighter Ruben Hurricane Carter, and was still in search of his first best actor Oscar at the time (7m14s).
• When asked what sets him apart from other actors, Denzel Washington attributed his success to being blessed with an ability and being committed to working hard at his craft (7m59s).
• Denzel Washington's start in acting began on stage in the 1970s, and he recalls that acting "clicked" for him immediately, with his breakthrough role coming in 1981 when he starred in Charles Fuller's Pulitzer Prize-winning work "A Soldier's Play" (8m19s).
• Washington's performance in "A Soldier's Play" led to roles in "Saint Elsewhere" and "A Soldier's Story," an Oscar-nominated film, and he has since trusted his instincts as an actor, even when it meant objecting to a director's vision, as he did with Norman Jewison on the set of "A Soldier's Story" (8m46s).
• Denzel Washington's confidence and self-assurance were key factors in his success, with some people even describing it as arrogance, but he believes there's nothing wrong with saying you're right when you feel you are (9m27s).

Denzel Washington's Oscar wins and nominations

• In 1990, Denzel won an Oscar for Best Supporting Actor for his role in the Civil War drama "Glory," where he played a soldier in an all-black military regiment opposite Morgan Freeman and Matthew Broderick (9m50s).
• To prepare for a pivotal scene in "Glory," Denzel got on his knees and communicated with the spirits of those who had been enslaved and whipped, which helped him get into character and take charge of the scene (10m33s).
• In 1992, Denzel took on the role of Malcolm X, which earned him his first Oscar nomination for Best Actor, although he didn't expect to win due to the strong competition, including Al Pacino, who had been nominated eight times without a win (11m48s).
• Denzel voted for Al Pacino to win the Oscar that year, as he believed Pacino deserved it, and he didn't want to see Pacino lose again (12m19s).
• Despite not winning the Oscar for "Malcolm X," Denzel was already considered one of the great actors of his time, alongside actors like Pacino, Hoffman, and Brando (13m26s).

Comparison between Denzel Washington and Sidney Poitier

• Denzel grew up watching and admiring actors like Pacino, Hoffman, and Brando, and he has often been compared to another great actor, Sidney Poitier (13m39s).
• Denzel Washington initially felt insulted when people compared him to Sidney Poitier, as it implied there were no other notable black actors between them, and he didn't want to be seen as just the "next Sidney" (13m48s).
• However, Denzel acknowledges Sidney Poitier's significant influence and the tremendous responsibility he carried as a trailblazer for black actors, which he handled with dignity and elegance (14m40s).
• The comparison between Denzel and Sidney is seen as both a compliment and troubling, as it highlights the limited opportunities and representation for black actors in the past (14m57s).
• Sidney Poitier's groundbreaking work in the 1950s and 1960s laid the foundation for future generations of black actors, and Denzel Washington is seen as building upon that foundation (15m38s).
• Denzel doesn't feel the need to carry the torch for black actors, as he believes there are many others who have made significant contributions, including James Earl Jones, Paul Robeson, and contemporary actors like Sam Jackson and Will Smith (15m57s).
• Denzel's ability to express all aspects of human life and experience is seen as a generational shift, allowing him to showcase excellence without the same level of pressure and responsibility that Sidney Poitier faced (16m42s).

Discussion on race and its impact on Denzel Washington's career

• Ed Bradley, a journalist and correspondent, discussed the pressure of racism and being judged by the color of one's skin, rather than the content of their character, in a 1993 interview (17m29s).
• Denzel Washington echoed this sentiment in a 1999 conversation, stating that the playing field is not level and that racism and ignorance are still present, but he acknowledges that things have improved for him compared to those who came before him (17m59s).
• Denzel believes that as a black man, he cannot hide his race, and that this visibility can lead to assumptions and biases, unlike other racial groups who may be able to conceal their identity (18m21s).
• Denzel Washington believes that the majority of people in the industry will treat actors fairly, but notes that it affects the scripts he receives, and he doesn't get many scripts in the first place (18m36s).
• He thinks that Hollywood often struggles to see a good actor beyond their race, which can limit the roles he's offered (19m21s).

Lack of romantic lead roles for Denzel Washington

• Despite being called one of the sexiest men in Hollywood, Denzel Washington is not often offered romantic lead roles in big-budget Hollywood movies (19m32s).
• He believes this is due to business reasons, as a love story with a black lead may not be considered big business in Hollywood (19m57s).
• Denzel Washington is not bothered by the lack of romantic lead roles, as he doesn't feel the need to play those types of characters (20m27s).
• He prefers to think of intimate scenes as "love scenes" rather than "sex scenes" and believes in leaving something to the imagination (20m36s).
• Denzel Washington has done love scenes in films like Mississippi Masala and He Got Game, but prefers to take a more subtle approach (20m44s).

Denzel Washington's return to theater and directing ventures

• He was interested in returning to theater and took on the role of Brutus in a modern-day production of Shakespeare's Julius Caesar on Broadway (21m3s).
• Denzel Washington decided to do the play to get back to his roots and tackle the challenging world of Shakespeare (21m34s).
• Since 2002, he has been working consistently, doing seven films and winning the Academy Award for Best Actor for his role in Training Day (21m50s).
• At the time, Denzel Washington was making significant money for his acting work, but was not yet at the $20 million mark (22m17s).
• He also ventured into directing with Antoine Fisher and enjoyed the experience, planning to do it again in the future (22m33s).
• Denzel Washington has mentioned Clint Eastwood as a model for his career, admiring the way Eastwood has transitioned into filmmaking (22m45s).

Ed Bradley's passing and Bill Whitaker's interview with Denzel Washington

• Ed Bradley, a journalist who interviewed Denzel Washington twice, passed away in 2006 at the age of 65 due to complications from leukemia (23m9s).
• Before interviewing Denzel Washington, research was conducted by reviewing Ed Bradley's previous interviews with him to understand his demeanor and interaction style (23m35s).
• In 2016, Bill Whitaker interviewed Denzel Washington while he was directing and acting in the film adaptation of August Wilson's play "Fences" (23m57s).
• The idea for the interview with Denzel Washington came from the opportunity to explore the connection between August Wilson's 20th-century plays and Denzel Washington's 20th and 21st-century acting career (24m27s).

The interviewer's connection with Denzel Washington and his family's involvement in "The Piano Lesson"

• The interviewer had a prior connection with Denzel Washington, as their children attended the same elementary and high school, and they had met at a PTA meeting or back-to-school event (24m55s).
• Denzel Washington's children, including John David Washington, have pursued careers in the entertainment industry, with John David starring in films like "Black Clansman" and an upcoming adaptation of August Wilson's "The Piano Lesson" (25m57s).
• The film adaptation of "The Piano Lesson" is a family affair, with Denzel Washington as a producer, and his family members involved in various roles, including acting and directing (26m11s).

August Wilson's perspective on the director of "Fences" and the importance of cultural understanding

• August Wilson insisted that a black director direct the film adaptation of "Fences," believing that a white director might not fully capture the depth and nuance of black culture (26m38s).
• The interviewer agrees with August Wilson's perspective, suggesting that cultural understanding is more important than race, and that certain cultural nuances may be lost in translation if directed by someone from a different cultural background (26m57s).
• The smell of hair being hot combed on a Sunday morning is a specific cultural smell that can evoke memories and take a person to a particular place (27m45s).
• As an African-American, race is always a factor and is always present, and it would be remiss not to take it into consideration when telling a story (28m28s).
• However, it's also important not to be pigeonholed into only talking about race, and to be able to discuss other aspects of a person's life and career, such as their excellence as an actor (29m7s).
• Denzel Washington's career is an example of someone who has dealt with the challenges of being a black actor in America, but has proven that it is not the defining factor of his career and life (29m33s).
• When interviewing someone from a different background, it's a balance between acknowledging the importance of their background and not making it the only focus of the story (30m4s).
• The United States is a diverse country, and telling America's stories requires acknowledging and including all aspects of life, including diversity (30m17s).
• Denzel Washington likely would not be offended by being asked about race, but would be troubled if that's the only thing an interviewer is interested in (30m42s).

Denzel Washington's appeal and impact on the film industry

• By 2016, Denzel Washington was starring in big-budget movies and had become a game-changer in the industry, appealing to a wide range of audiences (31m6s).
• According to studio executives, Denzel Washington defies categorizations and appeals across the board, to both men and women, and to different racial groups (31m30s).
• Denzel Washington's goal is to be the best actor he can be, and he doesn't set out to cultivate a specific appeal, but rather focuses on doing his best with the ability he has (32m9s).
• Denzel Washington has not played a superhero role, and is not interested in doing so, joking that he may be too old for the "tights" (32m20s).

Denzel Washington's approach to art versus commerce and his disinterest in superhero roles

• Denzel Washington acknowledges the importance of recognizing one's limitations and the need for financial stability, stating that acting pays the bills (32m46s).
• He seems to bridge the divide between art and commerce by taking on big blockbusters to pay the bills, while also working on passion projects like "Fences" and "The Piano Lesson" (33m25s).
• The upcoming film "Gladiator 2" is considered a blockbuster, but it is unclear how it fits into Washington's art versus commerce approach (33m53s).

Denzel Washington's upcoming projects and career trajectory

• Denzel Washington will turn 70 in late December, having spent nearly 50 years acting, and "Gladiator 2" is the biggest film he's ever worked on (34m17s).
• Next year, he will return to Broadway to star in a play, and it appears that he is moving more towards directing and producing (34m29s).
• Washington is in a position where he can do what he wants, whether it's producing all of August Wilson's plays or starring in a huge blockbuster (34m57s).
• He has reached the pinnacle of his profession and can pick and choose his projects, which is often referred to as the American dream (35m34s).