Denzel Washington Says He ‘Made Some Real Clunkers’ in the ’90s AfterMalcolm X: ‘I Was Earning. I Had Responsibilities’

Mar. 15, 2025

Denzel Washington on Nov. 13, 2024.Photo:Samir Hussein/WireImage

Samir Hussein/WireImage

Denzel Washingtonis admitting that his filmography isn’t perfect.

Ahead of the release ofGladiator II, the 69-year-old actor discussed his career in an interview withThe Sunday Times, published on Friday, Nov. 15, and noted that not all of his movies were hits.

“AfterMalcolm XI made some real clunkers. Look them up — I won’t say their names,” he told the outlet. “They are all in the 1990s. But I was earning. I had responsibilities.”

Some films the two-time Oscar winner starred in during that decade includedMuch Ado About Nothing,The Pelican Brief,Virtuosity, Crimson Tide, Devil in a Blue Dress,The Preacher’s Wife,Fallen, He Got GameandThe Bone Collector, among other movies.

Denzel Washington in a ‘Malcolm X.’ scene.Everett

Everett

“So in that era I was earning,” he explained. “With a great agent, my career built into making money and so the earning kicked in and then life also kicked in, with bills, four kids and a house.”

The Equalizeractor also revealed that he is “guilty” of not watching his films the whole way through, similar toJudi Dench. He admitted that he does “watch” some parts of the films “so I know what I’m talking about,” but leaves the rest unfinished.

Denzel Washington and Bob Hoskins in ‘Heart Condition’ from 1990.Bill Nation/Sygma via Getty

Bill Nation/Sygma via Getty

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“I haven’t watched any film from my past from start to finish, not evenMalcolm X,” Washington said. “All you see is what you did wrong. Also why would you do it anyway?”

Earlier this week, Washington shared on Australia’sToday showthat his acting career has taken a new focus now that he’s growing older and that he is ​​”only interested in working with the best moving forward.”

Actor Denzel Washington attends “Gladiator II” Asian premiere stage appearance at 2024 Tokyo International Film Festival TIFF at TOHO Cinemas Hibiya on November 05, 2024 in Tokyo, Japan.Mila Gruber/Getty

Mila Gruber/Getty

“I don’t know how many more films I’m going to make. Probably not that many. I want to do things I haven’t done. I played Othello at 22; I’m about to playOthelloat 70,” he said, referencing hisupcoming Broadway run in Shakespeare’sOthellowithJake Gyllenhaal.

“After that, I’m playing Hannibal. After that, I’ve been talking with Steve McQueen about a film. After that, Ryan Coogler is writing apart for me in the nextBlack Panther,” he added.

Gladiator IIreleases in theaters on Nov. 22.

source: people.com