Denzel Washington prefers to think of himself as a theater actor before a film star.
During an interview on CBS News’ Sunday Morning on March 23, the actor, 70, spoke about his role alongside Jake Gyllenhaal in the new Broadway production of Shakespeare’s Othello — and reflected on why he considers himself a theater performer before all else.
“What’s the definition of a Hollywood actor? Myself, I’m from Mt. Vernon, so I’m a ‘Mt. Vernon actor,’ ” Washington said, referring to his hometown in New York. “I don’t know what ‘Hollywood’ means.”
“Somebody who’s famous on film? A film actor, great success on film?” continued Washington, who has won Oscars for his work in movies including 1989’s Glory and 2001’s Training Day.
“I’m a stage actor who does film; it’s not the other way around,” Washington explained. “I did stage first. I learned how to act on stage, not on film. Movies are a filmmaker’s medium. You shoot it, and then you’re gone, and they cut together and add music and do all of that. Theater is an actor’s medium. The curtain goes up, nobody can help you.”
The new production of Othello — which celebrated its opening night on March 23 — features Washington in the title role and Gyllenhaal, 44, as the villainous Iago. This is the first time Othello has been on Broadway in more than 40 years. The last revival, in 1982, starred James Earl Jones as Othello, Christopher Plummer as Iago and Dianne Wiest as Desdemona.
Elsewhere in his conversation with Sunday Morning, Washington spoke about how the Broadway production is a dream for him — and how he hopes he can fill the shoes of the late Jones, one of his heroes.
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“James Earl Jones was my northern star when I was in college,” he said. “He was who I wanted to be. I didn’t get to see his Othello, but I know it wasn’t as good as my 22-year-old interpretation. But you know, it’s my turn.”
“I know a lot less now,” Washington continued, reflecting on his 22-year-old self’s interpretation of the titular military officer role. “I thought I knew everything then. I didn’t really like the part, ’cause I wasn’t wise enough to understand it. Now I understand it’s really about a bond, you know, that these characters have. He loves not wisely, but too well.”
Working with Gyllenhaal and getting to put on a Shakespeare production of this scale, he added, is “the most excited I’ve been this century.”
“Seriously,” he said. “I haven’t been this excited about anything I’ve done as I am about this.”
Tony Award-winning director Kenny Leon helms the production, which is set to run for a strictly limited 15-week engagement. Lead producer Brian Anthony Moreland spearheaded the production to the stage, alongside a series of co-producers including Real Housewives of Atlanta alum Kandi Burrus and her husband Todd Tucker.
Othello is playing at Broadway’s Barrymore Theatre, now through Sunday, June 8.
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