The One Film Legend Denzel Washington Says Is His True Hero

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I’ve always admired Denzel Washington as an actor, but I’ve come to really appreciate him as a director too. He first tried directing back in 2002 with Antwone Fisher, and it was amazing to see him both direct the film and act in it as a psychiatrist. Since then, he’s directed a few more films, showing he has a real gift for storytelling beyond just performing. I remember reading an interview with him when he was promoting The Great Debaters, and he explained what he loves about directing. He said it’s incredibly rewarding to watch other actors grow and succeed, and he really enjoys sharing everything he’s learned over the years. It’s not about being ‘the director’ for him, it’s about working with people and helping new actors find their own unique talent. It’s the collaboration and seeing them shine that really motivates him.

Denzel Washington has shared that he looks up to Clint Eastwood as a role model for his own career path. He admires how Eastwood seamlessly moved from being a hugely successful actor to a highly respected director.

Washington views Eastwood’s journey as a guide for eventually shifting his focus from performing to mentoring others and directing from behind the camera. Eastwood set a high standard, transitioning from early roles in shows like Rawhide and films in the Dollars Trilogy to directing his debut film, Play Misty For Me, in 1971.

Both actors frequently starred in their own directed projects, creating a unique career blend that resulted in acclaimed films like Unforgiven and Million Dollar Baby. By following this example, Washington is building a legacy defined not only by his performances, but also by the stories he helps bring to life.

Denzel Washington continues to be a highly active and admired actor. He recently finished filming Highest 2 Lowest, a new crime thriller directed by Spike Lee, which was released in 2025. The movie is a remake of Akira Kurosawa’s classic film High and Low and features Washington acting alongside Jeffrey Wright and A$AP Rocky. Despite speculation that this might be the last time Lee and Washington work together, Washington has plenty of future projects planned.

Denzel Washington has several exciting projects on the horizon. Later this year, he’ll star in the Netflix heist film, Here Comes the Flood, alongside Robert Pattinson, Daisy Edgar-Jones, and Danai Gurira. He’s also teaming up again with director Antoine Fuqua for a large-scale historical epic about Hannibal, which is being compared to Lawrence of Arabia and will be released on Netflix. And, he’s set to reprise his role in at least two more Equalizer movies, with talk that a fourth film could be in the works for a potential 2027 release.

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2026-02-05 19:15