Denzel Washington Admits Resentment Over Shedding Oscar to Kevin Spacey

Although Denzel Washington has a number of accolades to cherish all through his distinguished profession, one loss nonetheless resonates with him. The Hollywood legend recollects when he missed out on the last word performing award, dropping the Finest Actor Oscar to Kevin Spacey and feeling “bitter” about it for some time.

Talking with Esquire, Washington opened up about lacking out on what would have been his first Finest Actor Academy Award in 2000. His acclaimed efficiency as skilled boxer Rubin Carter in The Hurricane misplaced to Spacey’s portrayal of advanced promoting govt Lester Burnham in American Magnificence. When the presenters confirmed Spacey gained, Washington initially thought folks had been taking a look at him shocked that he did not get the award. “On the Oscars, they known as Kevin Spacey’s identify for American Magnificence,” Washington mentioned. “I’ve a reminiscence of turning round and taking a look at him, and no person was standing however the folks round him. And everybody else was taking a look at me. Not that it was this fashion. Possibly that’s the best way I perceived it. Possibly I felt like all people was taking a look at me. As a result of why would all people be taking a look at me? Eager about it now, I don’t suppose they had been.”

Nevertheless, the Gladiator II star drowned his disappointment in alcohol when the defeat settled in and vowed by no means to get entangled within the Oscar voting course of as he felt his time on the high would possibly by no means come. “I’m certain I went dwelling and drank that night time. I needed to,” Washington mentioned. “I don’t need to sound like, ‘Oh, he gained my Oscar,’ or something like that. It wasn’t like that.”

He added, “I went via a time then when [my wife] Pauletta would watch all of the Oscar motion pictures—I instructed 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 bought bitter. My pity celebration.”

Washington’s portrayal of Carter, the previous middleweight champion who was wrongly convicted and imprisoned for a homicide he did not commit, gained him a Golden Globe and gave him one other shot to snag the Finest Actor Oscar after famously lacking out on taking part in the eponymous civil rights activist in Malcolm X. Whereas the highest Academy Award eluded him for a second time, Washington lastly succeeded on the third try in 2002, successful Finest Actor for his efficiency as corrupt cop Alonzo Harris in Coaching Day. The long-cherished win got here on the night time Halle Berry turned the primary Black lady to win the Finest Actress Oscar. It was additionally his second Academy Award win after claiming the Finest Supporting Actor honor for Glory.

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Although the defeat stung, Washington insists he has no in poor health will in the direction of the now-disgraced Spacey, wishing him properly. “And you already know, there was speak within the city about what was occurring over there on that aspect of the road, and that’s between him and God. I ain’t bought nothing to do with that. I pray for him. That’s between him and his maker,” he mentioned.

Denzel Washington Stars in Gladiator II

Washington stars in Gladiator II as a former slave-turned-arms supplier and energy dealer named Macrinus, tasked with coaching the historic epic’s primary protagonist, Lucius Verus (Paul Mescal), to turn out to be a gladiator and vying for management of Rome. The sequel to the Oscar-winning authentic additionally options Pedro Pascal, Connie Nielsen, Joseph Quinn, Fred Hechinger and Derek Jacobi.

Gladiator II opens in theaters throughout North America on Nov. 22.

Supply: Esquire

Follows Lucius, the son of Maximus’ love Lucilla, after Maximus’ loss of life.

Director

Ridley Scott

Launch Date

November 22, 2024

Solid

Paul Mescal , Pedro Pascal , Denzel Washington , Connie Nielsen , Joseph Quinn , Fred Hechinger , Derek Jacobi , Might Calamawy , Peter Mensah , Matt Lucas , Alexander Karim , Tim McInnerny , Lee Charles , Chidi Ajufo , Alfie Tempest , Riana Duce , Chi Lewis Parry , Paul Candelent , Hadrian Howard , Alexander Simkin , Mikhail Basmadjian , Matthew Charlery-Smith , Maxime Durand , Lior Raz

Writers

David Scarpa , Peter Craig , David Franzoni

Most important Style

Journey

Studio(s)

Paramount Footage , Common Footage , Scott Free Productions , Crimson Wagon Leisure

Distributor(s)

Paramount Footage

Character(s)

Lucius Verus , Marcus Acacius , Macrinus , Lucilla , Emperor Caracalla , Emperor Geta , Gracchus

Develop