Kaylah Walton
One prominent figure in Hollywood, Denzel Washington, has opened up about his struggles with alcohol and drug addiction. The 69-year-old actor shared that these issues have significantly affected his health, even though he has maintained sobriety for nearly ten years.
The celebrated New Yorker, a two-time Academy Award recipient, confessed that his addiction was primarily to wine, although he experimented with various substances, including heroin and cocaine.
“I’ve inflicted a lot of harm on my body,” noted Washington during his conversation with Esquire. “I’ve been sober, and now that I’m approaching seventy, I’m reflecting on it. It’s real, and I’m coming to terms with it. This is my final chapter – if I get another thirty years, what do I want to achieve? My mother lived to ninety-seven, so I’m doing my best.”
“Wine is deceptive; it’s gradual. It doesn’t hit you all at once. I never became addicted to heroin. I never got hooked on cocaine or any hard drugs. I tried them, but I never fell into addiction.”
Washington also shared how he and his family incorporated a wine cellar into their home, spending up to $4000 on fine bottles sourced from Gil Turner’s Fine Wines & Spirits in Los Angeles. Still, he maintained some self-control, limiting himself to only two bottles and spaced out his consumption throughout the day. He ensured he did not drink while preparing for or acting in roles.
Washington Shines in Gladiator II
With high hopes for Gladiator II, following the success of the original film featuring Russell Crowe and Joaquin Phoenix that won multiple Academy Awards in 2000, Washington steps into a significant role. He portrays Macrinus, a clever ex-slave maneuvering for power in Rome.
“Washington nearly steals the show,” commented Peter Bradshaw in The Guardian. “He masterfully manipulates the weaknesses of the gambling-addicted Tim McInnerny as Senator Thraex.”
