Denzel Washington Getty Images
Denzel Washington may be one of Hollywood’s most celebrated actors, but the two-time Oscar winner says he never stepped in front of a camera chasing golden statues.
“I don’t do it for Oscars,” the 69-year-old said during an interview with Jake’s Takes. “I’m not that interested in that kind of stuff. I’ve been at this a long time. There were times I won when I probably shouldn’t have, and times I didn’t win when maybe I should have. Man gives the award. God gives the reward.”
Washington’s words came with the same calm confidence that has defined his four-decade career. Even his two Academy Awards — Best Supporting Actor for Glory (1989) and Best Actor for Training Day (2001) — don’t hold a pedestal in his life.
“People ask me where I keep them,” he said with a smile. “Well, next to the other one. I’m not bragging — just telling you how I feel. On my last day, those Oscars aren’t going to do me any good.”
When interviewer Jake Hamilton remarked, “I don’t think God ever asks how many Oscars you have,” Washington laughed. “He might say, ‘That’s why I gave you an extra week.’ As long as He says, ‘Now get on up here,’ I’m alright.”
Taking Snubs in Stride
Washington’s easygoing attitude was on full display earlier this year when he was left off the Oscars nomination list for his role in Gladiator II.
“I was sitting there smiling,” he told The New York Times. “On the day I didn’t get a nomination, I was working on Othello on Broadway. Are you kidding me?”
He followed it with playful sarcasm: “Awww. Oh, I’m so upset.” Then, shifting to a more reflective tone, he added, “I’ve been around too long. I’m getting wiser, talking less, and learning to understand more — and that’s exciting.”
A Career Built on More Than Awards
Across his career, Denzel Washington has been nominated for 10 Academy Awards, delivering unforgettable performances in films like Malcolm X, Fences, The Hurricane, and The Equalizer series. But for him, the measure of success has never been about collecting trophies.
“It’s about the work, the stories, and the people you reach,” he’s said in the past. That belief — combined with his ability to command the screen in any role — has kept him at the top of the industry for decades.
For Washington, the real prize is the legacy he leaves behind and the personal growth that comes from each performance. The awards? Nice to have. But as he made clear, they’re far from the reason he gets up and goes to work.
