Denzel Washington says he acts for craft not Oscars Highest 2 Lowest

Denzel Washington says he does not act for awards, a stance he reiterated while promoting his new Spike Lee drama Highest 2 Lowest. Speaking during a conversation about the film, Washington emphasized that Oscar trophies and snubs alike do not drive his career, insisting that “Man gives the award. God gives the reward,” and that on his last day in the industry, the statuette won’t matter.

Washington’s remarks come as he gears up for the release of Highest 2 Lowest, a project that reunites him with Lee and pairs him with longtime collaborator Jeffrey Wright. The film, a contemporary interpretation of Kurosawa’s High and Low, hits select theaters on Aug. 15 before making its Apple TV streaming debut on Sept. 5. Washington has described himself in recent years as a stage actor first and foremost, a discipline he has carried into a career spanning decades on screen and stage.

The actor’s comments about the Oscars reflect a broader pattern in his public persona. He has earned two Academy Awards across ten or more nominations, depending on how estimates are counted in various summaries, including Best Supporting Actor for Glory and Best Actor for Training Day. Yet in his view, the...