Denzel Washington, the acclaimed actor and two-time Academy Award winner, recently offered a candid perspective on why Oscar gold means little to him at this stage in his career. The 70-year-old star, speaking alongside co-star Jeffrey Wright while promoting Spike Lee’s new film Highest 2 Lowest, made clear that recognition from awards bodies doesn’t drive him anymore. “I don’t do it for Oscars, I really don’t care about that kind of stuff,” Washington stated on Jake’s Takes.
Washington reflected on the unpredictable nature of awards. “There’s times I won and shouldn’t have won… and didn’t win and should’ve won,” he admitted, framing the awards as imperfect and often arbitrary. He then shared a memorable axiom: “Man gives the award, God gives the reward.”
When asked where he keeps his Oscars, he responded with good-natured humor: “Next to the other one.” He insisted he wasn’t bragging, but simply speaking his truth. And when it comes to his legacy, Washington didn’t mince words: “On my last day, they won’t do me a bit of good!”
Spiritual Perspective & Career Reflection
Washington’s spiritual mindset clearly shapes this outlook. He emphasized that divine fulfillment, rather than trophies, defines his sense of achievement. When the host noted that God doesn’t tally awards, Washington joked, “He might go, ‘That’s why I gave you an extra week.’”
Despite his relaxed attitude toward accolades, Washington’s career has left an indelible mark on Hollywood. He earned his first Oscar in 1990 for Best Supporting Actor in Glory and later became the first Black actor to win both Best Supporting Actor and Best Actor, when he captured the latter for Training Day in 2002.
This statement arrives in the wake of a widely discussed Oscar snub for his role in Gladiator II, a performance many expected would secure him another nomination. Washington brushed it off with characteristic composure, signaling that such matters no longer distract him.
In years past, he’s expressed regret over losses too—most notably when Al Pacino won Best Actor for Scent of a Woman over his work in Malcolm X. But Washington has since adopted a more philosophical perspective.