Denzel Washington Explains Why He “Made Some Real Clunkers” Following Breakout Role In ‘Malcolm X’

Denzel Washington, revered for his consistent hit rate as much as his talent when it comes to movie-making, reveals he knows he made some bad choices at an earlier stage in his career. 

The double Oscar winner, who stars as slave owner Macrinus in Gladiator II, told The Times of London: 

“After Malcolm X [1992] I made some real clunkers. Look them up — I won’t say their names. They are all in the 1990s. But I was earning. I had responsibilities.”

Washington added by explanation: 

“In life, you learn, earn and then you return — as in give back. So if your life is 90 years long, up until 30 you learn and from 30 to 60 you earn… so in that era I was earning. 

“With a great agent, my career built into making money and so the earning kicked in and then life also kicked in, with bills, four kids and a house …”

A quick check of Washington’s IMDB reveals he’s perhaps being hard on himself. Titles from that era include hits including The Pelican Brief, Crimson Tide, The Preacher’s Wife, Much Ado About Nothing and Courage Under Fire.

And he also earned two Oscars, the first for Best Supporting Actor in Glory in 1990 and the second for Best Actor in Training Day in 2002. The Times pointed out one of the most searched terms under his name on the internet is “Can Denzel Washington make a bad movie?”

For his role in Gladiator II, if he’s stealing all the good notices for his supporting role, he told the newspaper it’s because audiences always see a lot of his own character on screen:

“You bring yourself to the part. I think I’m a good guy. I try to do the right thing. I’m a simple guy and I got a great job and so, maybe, coming into my movies, you go, ‘Denzel? He’s a good guy — we’ve seen him in other things where he has that good in him.’ You bring yourself to your work, no matter what. And I try to help people.”