Denzel Washington does not care the Oscars snubbed him for ‘Gladiator 2’: “I’ve been around too long”
Denzel Washington has said he does not care about being snubbed by the Oscars for Best Supporting Actor for Gladiator 2.
The star, who previously won Best Actor for his role in the 2001 crime drama Training Day and Supporting Actor for the 1989 war film Glory, portrayed the character Macrinus in the sequel to the 2000 blockbuster.
He lost out to a host of actors who were nominated ahead of the forthcoming 97th Academy Awards ceremony in LA on Sunday, March 2, including Kieran Culkin, Edward Norton, Guy Pearce, Jeremy Strong and Yura Borisov.
When asked about the snub in an interview with The New York Times, Washington joked: “Are you kidding me? Awww. I’m happy for all that did, and I’m happy with what I’m doing.”
He continued: “Listen, I’ve been around too long. I’ve got – I don’t wanna say other fish to fry, but there’s a reality at this age. The beginning of wisdom is understanding. I’m getting wiser, working on talking less and learning to understand more – and that’s exciting.”
Washington went on to say that performing the role of Othello on Broadway was rewarding enough.
“I was sitting there smiling going: ‘Look at you. On the day you didn’t get a nomination for an Oscar, you’re working on Othello on Broadway,’” he added.
Elsewhere, Washington was recently baptised and received a minister’s licence just days before his 70th birthday.
He also recently revealed that Black Panther 3 is in development, with an unspecified role being set aside for Washington himself. Washington will also star in Spike Lee’s upcoming film Highest 2 Lowest, alongside A$AP Rocky and Ice Spice.
Reviewing Gladiator 2, NME awarded the film three stars and said: “If you loved Gladiator, it’s odds-on you’ll enjoy this too. It’s got all of the same exciting bits – swordfighting, rousing speeches, nasty poshos getting what they deserve.
“The problem is that’s all it gives you. You want to feel like you’re watching Maximus lift off his helmet and deliver that iconic monologue for the first time again. You want the thrill of a core memory being unlocked. You want to know you’ll be quoting Mescal’s lines to your mates in the pub for the next 10 years. Gladiator 2, piously respectful as it is, can only offer a faded memory of that experience. There was a dream that was Rome – and this is kind of it.”
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Damian Jones
NME
