Denzel Washington Reveals Why Likes To Star In Movies He Directs

Denzel Washington is certainly one of the most successful actors of his generation. At 67 years young, he looks like he can still go full steam ahead. Although, he's mentioned before that he feels that the end of his career just might be right around the corner.

In a recent sit down with Variety Denzel reflected on a bunch of different topics. In the process, he revealed a couple of tricks of the trade, and why he's made some of his most famous career moves. Particular referencing what is widely considered his best directorial performance in the movie 'Fences'. Denzel is not only passing on some tips and tricks to fans through this interview but also to younger actors. Who may see themselves as the next Denzel?

What many people may not know is that Denzel Washington has had quite a prolific career in theater. To go on long with his mega movie star status. In fact, he played some of his most iconic characters on stage first, before taking his performance to the big screen. Denzel, turned into Malcolm X in the theater production "When the Chickens Came Home to Roost" a decade before playing the civil rights activist on the big screen. The theater though hasn't always been kind to Denzel. In the interview with Variety, he had this to say about his debut,

“The first play I did was a musical,” he jokingly recalled, “I thought I could sing until I found out that I couldn’t."

Many big actors who then turn to the director's chair, still find time to star in the very same productions that they direct. In many cases, fans tend to think these stars are too arrogant and don't think that anyone else can do the job better. Perhaps they haven't considered this new perspective that Denzel is offering. The, Remember the Titans star revealed that for him staring in the films that he directed was a necessity. Going as far as to say that he never liked acting in the movies that he directed. Essentially, he just did this because he needed the cash. Denzel mentioned,

“I acted in the movies because I needed to in order to get the money to direct them. So now, for me, this feels like the first film I’ve directed, because I’m not in it. That’s the way I prefer it.”

By this point in the interview, Denzel Washington had been asked about the new generation of Black actors that he'd inspired. Michael B. Jordan for example is following Denzel's example of starring and directing a film with Creed III. Perhaps though, it was the late Chadwick Boseman whom Denzel had a deeper impact on. Washington shared some touching words for the Black Panther star,

“A man among men,” Denzel then detailed Boseman struggle saying, “He suffered quietly. He made the movie, and nobody knew. I didn’t know. He never said a peep about it. He just did his job. I wondered if something was wrong because he seemed weak or tired sometimes. We had no idea, and it was nobody’s business. Good for him, keeping it to himself.”