The Brief:

• Denzel Washington celebrates ten years of sobriety, openly discussing past experiences with alcohol and drugs in an interview with Esquire.
• Despite experimenting with substances, Washington avoided severe addiction, notably with hard drugs, emphasizing this in his narrative.
• Currently focusing on a sober future, Washington dispels retirement rumors and plans to continue acting and directing more films.

Denzel Washington, renowned for his roles in blockbuster hits like “Gladiator II,” is marking a milestone nearly a decade in the making—his tenth year of sobriety. In an open-hearted discussion with Esquire, Washington delves into his past experiences with alcohol and drugs, shedding light on a battle many were unaware he faced. The actor touches on his experimentation with substances but emphasizes his avoidance of addiction’s tightest grip, stating, “I never got strung out on heroin. Never got strung out on coke. Never got strung out on hard drugs.”

Initially, Washington describes his interaction with alcohol as almost idyllic, recounting days spent at wine tastings savoring top-shelf varieties. This enjoyment, however, evolved into a habit that saw him requesting bottles of “the best” to consume privately over the day. His portrayal of William “Whip” Whitaker in “Flight,” an alcoholic pilot role that garnered him an Oscar nomination for Best Actor, ironically coincided with a period where he abstained from alcohol during filming only to return to it afterward.

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Reflecting on these years and the potential harm inflicted upon his body by such habits, Washington now embraces a future free from the hold of alcohol. Contrary to rumors hinting at retirement, he confirmed in a conversation with Jimmy Kimmel his plans to not only continue acting but also to direct more extensively in the coming years.

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