Denzel Washington, a two-time Oscar winner, recently shared his strong thoughts about the Academy Awards. He said he does not care about winning Oscars and believes they hold no real value in life. The actor made these comments while promoting his new movie Highest 2 Lowest.
Washington has won two Oscars—Best Supporting Actor for Glory (1990) and Best Actor for Training Day (2002). He has also been nominated nine times. Despite his success, he says awards mean nothing to him.
“I don’t do it for Oscars. I don’t care about that kind of stuff,” Washington said on Jake’s Takes. “Man gives the award. God gives the reward. On my last day, [Oscars] aren’t going to do me a bit of good.”
Denzel Washington’s Honest Thoughts on Awards
Washington explained that after decades in Hollywood, he has seen how unpredictable award wins can be. Sometimes, he felt he didn’t deserve to win, and other times, he should have won but didn’t.
“I’ve been at this a long time, and there’s times when I won and shouldn’t have won and then didn’t win and should’ve won,” he said.
When asked where he keeps his Oscars, he joked:
“Next to the other one. I’m not bragging! Just telling you how I feel about it.”
His co-star Ethan Hawke once shared how Washington comforted him after an Oscar loss. Washington told him, “It’s better that you didn’t win. Losing was better.” Hawke said Washington believes an actor should “improve the award’s status,” not the other way around.
His Reaction to Recent Oscar Snub
Earlier this year, Washington was not nominated for his role in Gladiator II, even though many expected him to be. When asked about it, he responded sarcastically:
“Are you kidding me? Awww. Oh, I’m so upset. I’m happy for all that did, and I’m happy with what I’m doing.”
He added that at his age, he focuses on wisdom rather than awards:
“The beginning of wisdom is understanding. I’m getting wiser, working on talking less and learning to understand more—and that’s exciting.”
Past Oscar Disappointments and Moving On
Washington admitted he was once bitter about losing awards. After his Malcolm X (1992) performance was overlooked, he stopped voting for the Oscars and let his wife handle it.
“I went through a time when [my wife] Pauletta would watch all the Oscar movies—I told her, I don’t care about that. They don’t care about me? I don’t care. You vote. I ain’t watching that,” he once told Esquire.
However, his Training Day win in 2002 helped him move past his frustrations. Since then, he has received four more nominations but no wins—though he no longer minds.
His Focus on Faith and Legacy
Washington now prioritizes his faith over fame. He believes “God’s reward” matters more than any trophy. His latest film, Highest 2 Lowest, is a crime thriller directed by Spike Lee. The movie releases in theaters on August 15 and streams on Apple TV+ from September 5.
Lee mentioned that Washington has been “talking about retirement,” which could make this their final collaboration.
Fans on social media praised Washington’s attitude. One user wrote:
“Smart man. The Oscars are just a show about the Academy’s self-glorification. A lot of internal politically motivated crap as well.”
Another added:
“He has nothing left to prove. Just want to see him continue to be a part of great projects as long as he’s still active.”
Washington’s career spans nearly 50 years, and he remains one of Hollywood’s most respected actors—Oscars or not.
Also Read: Nobody 2 Post-Credits Scene Explained: What Fans Need To Know Before Leaving The Theater
Credits: Variety, Deadline, Hollywood Reporter
