Summary:
- Denzel Washington reflects on losing the 2000 Best Actor Oscar to Kevin Spacey.
- His performance in The Hurricane was critically acclaimed but lost to American Beauty.
- Washington later won Best Actor for Training Day in 2002.
- He stars in Gladiator II, releasing on Nov. 22, 2024.
Denzel Washington has candidly shared his feelings about missing out on the Best Actor Oscar in 2000, losing to Kevin Spacey. Despite initial bitterness, Washington eventually claimed the prestigious award in 2002 for his role in Training Day.
Denzel Washington’s Reflection on the 2000 Oscar Loss
Denzel Washington’s portrayal of Rubin Carter in The Hurricane earned widespread acclaim and a Golden Globe, making him a strong contender for the 2000 Academy Awards. However, the Best Actor Oscar went to Kevin Spacey for his role as Lester Burnham in American Beauty. Reflecting on the moment, Washington shared:
“At the Oscars, they called Kevin Spacey’s name for American Beauty. I have a memory of turning around and looking at him, and nobody was standing but the people around him. And everyone else was looking at me. Not that it was this way. Maybe that’s the way I perceived it. Maybe I felt like everybody was looking at me. Because why would everybody be looking at me? Thinking about it now, I don’t think they were.”
The loss affected Washington deeply. He admitted to drowning his disappointment in alcohol, saying,
“I’m sure I went home and drank that night. I had to.” He added: “I don’t want to sound like, ‘Oh, he won my Oscar,’ or anything like that. It wasn’t like that. I went through a time then when [my wife] Pauletta would watch all the Oscar movies—I told her, I don’t care about that. Hey: They don’t care about me? I don’t care. You vote. You watch them. I ain’t watching that. I gave up. I got bitter. My pity party.”
Despite the setback, Washington eventually triumphed, winning the Best Actor Oscar in 2002 for his performance as Alonzo Harris in Training Day. The win was historic, coinciding with Halle Berry’s groundbreaking Best Actress victory.
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Denzel Washington’s Career Resilience and Upcoming Role in Gladiator II
While reflecting on his Oscar journey, Washington expressed no resentment toward Kevin Spacey, saying, “I pray for him. That’s between him and his maker.” This resilience has defined Washington’s illustrious career, with numerous accolades and iconic roles.
Currently, Washington stars in Gladiator II as Macrinus, a former slave-turned-arms dealer. The sequel to the Oscar-winning Gladiator follows Lucius Verus (Paul Mescal) as he trains to become a gladiator under Macrinus’ guidance. The ensemble cast also includes Pedro Pascal, Connie Nielsen, and Joseph Quinn.
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Release Date: Gladiator II is set to hit theaters on Nov. 22, 2024.
Source: Esquire
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