Denzel Washington: ‘Man Gives the Award, God Gives the Reward

At 70, the two-time Oscar winner makes clear that trophies aren’t his motivation—wisdom, growth, and faith come first.

Denzel Washington recently made a point of distancing himself from the glitz of award ceremonies—emphasizing that, for him, acting isn’t about collecting trophies. While promoting his latest A24 film Highest 2 Lowest on Jake’s Takes, the seasoned actor underscored his belief in divine purpose over earthly recognition. “I don’t do it for Oscars,” Washington said plainly. “Man gives the awards. God gives the rewards.”

The 70-year-old icon—already a two-time Academy Award winner for Glory in 1990 and Training Day in 2002—acknowledged that awards have their place, but they’ve never defined him. “I’m not that interested in Oscars,” he added, reflecting on both outcomes: times he “shouldn’t have won” and times he “should’ve”—and didn’t.

Even the location of his Oscars fails to excite him. When asked where he keeps them, he replied with characteristic humility, “Next to the other one. I’m not bragging. On my last day, awards aren’t going to do me a bit of good.”

The actor’s outlook extends beyond his own accolades. When he was overlooked for an Oscar nod this year for Gladiator II, particularly amid high praise and nominations from the Golden Globes and Critics Choice Awards, Washington was unfazed. “I was sitting there smiling … On the day you didn’t get a nomination for an Oscar, you’re working on Othello on Broadway,” he recounted, teasing, “Awww. Oh, I’m so upset”—but clearly, he wasn’t. Instead, he explained that he has “other fish to fry,” valuing personal growth and wisdom above the glimmer of statuettes.

Going deeper into his personal history, Washington has openly shared how past awards-related disappointments once weighed on him heavily. For example, after missing out on Best Actor for The Hurricane—losing to Kevin Spacey—he described succumbing to a “pity party,” sinking into bitterness and drinking for over a decade, until getting sober in 2014.

Beyond his own experiences, Washington offered meaningful perspective to others, like his Training Day co-star Ethan Hawke. When Hawke lost his Oscar that night, Washington whispered, “You don’t want an award to improve your status. You want to improve the award’s status”—a philosophy that has resonated both on and off screen.