Denzel Washington Names the Performance He’s Most Proud Of

Denzel Washington is an actor known for his fierce intensity, but one of his most deeply personal performances came in the 2017 legal drama Roman J. Israel, Esq. In this role, Washington portrayed a passionate defense attorney who exists on the autism spectrum, a character that demanded a delicate balance of technical precision and profound empathy.

Reflecting on the role during a 2017 conversation with the Inquirer, Washington noted that his perspective on his craft changed significantly as he entered his sixties. He shared that he views his career with a sense of urgency, stating that this ain’t a dress rehearsal and expressing a desire to maximize his talents in the time he has left.

The film was a labor of love for director Dan Gilroy, who spent eight months tailoring the script specifically for Washington. Gilroy, who had long been obsessed with Washington, finally connected with the actor over a three-hour lunch in New York, where they found common ground in the character’s complexities.

Washington drew inspiration for Roman from people in his own life, including the son of a close friend, recognizing that we all know people like Roman. He was particularly fascinated by the duality of the character, noting that while Roman possesses a brilliant mind with total recall for literature, he fundamentally struggles to read people.

Although the movie received a mixed reception upon its debut at the Toronto International Film Festival, critics were unanimous in their praise for Washington’s performance.

The role earned him an Academy Award nomination, proving that a masterfully crafted character can resonate even when the surrounding narrative faces scrutiny. For Washington, the project was less about the accolades and more about the opportunity to explore a unique human experience with the nuance it deserved.

As of February, Washington remains one of Hollywood’s most prolific forces, having just come off a massive year. His scene-stealing role as the conniving Macrinus in Ridley Scott’s Gladiator II dominated the box office and earned him a Golden Globe nomination for Best Supporting Actor.

Critics hailed his performance as a late-career triumph, with many noting that he provided a necessary spark of mischievous agility to the epic sequel. Looking ahead, Washington has a packed schedule for the remainder of the year. He recently wrapped post-production on the Netflix heist thriller Here Comes the Flood.

Additionally, he continues to receive acclaim for his fifth collaboration with Spike Lee, Highest 2 Lowest. The film, a modern-day reimagining of Akira Kurosawa’s High and Low, stars Washington as a powerful music mogul caught in a devastating ransom plot and is currently a frontrunner for several upcoming NAACP Image Awards.

Beyond these projects, rumors persist about Washington joining the Marvel Cinematic Universe in a secret role for Black Panther 3, though he remains tight-lipped about the details. He is also attached to an upcoming biopic about the ancient Carthaginian general Hannibal, reuniting him once again with director Antoine Fuqua.

How do you feel about Denzel Washington’s late-career pivot toward more villainous and morally complex characters like Macrinus? Share your thoughts in the comments.