Denzel Washington reveals how he really feels about Oscars snub

The Hollywood film legend had a very blunt response when asked about missing out on a nomination for his role in Gladiator II.

Denzel Washington doesn’t mind being ignored by the Academy.

The 70-year-old actor was asked by the New York Times how he felt about not receiving an Oscar nomination for his performance in Gladiator II.

“I was sitting there smiling, going: Look at you. On the day you didn’t get a nomination for an Oscar, you’re working on Othello on Broadway,” Washington recalled in the interview published on Saturday.

“Are you kidding me? Awww. Oh, I’m so upset,” he sarcastically added, reports the New York Post.

Washington continued, “I’m happy for all that did, and I’m happy with what I’m doing”. “Listen, I’ve been around too long. I’ve got — I don’t wanna say other fish to fry, but there’s a reality at this age. The beginning of wisdom is understanding. I’m getting wiser, working on talking less and learning to understand more — and that’s exciting.”

Washington’s performance in Ridley Scott’s sequel starring Paul Mescal and Pedro Pascal earned rave reviews from critics, as well as Best Supporting Actor nominations at the 2025 Golden Globes and 2025 Critics Choice Awards.

Denzel Washington plays Macrinus in Gladiator II. Picture: Supplied

However, Washington was completely shut-out by the Oscars this year.

The Academy instead nominated Kieran Culkin (A Real Pain), Yura Borisov (Anora), Edward Norton (A Complete Unknown), Jeremy Strong (The Apprentice) and Guy Pearce (The Brutalist) for Best Supporting Actor.

Washington has been an Oscars darling over the years, which made his 2025 snub all the more surprising.

He previously won Best Supporting Actor in 1990 for Glory and Best Actor in 2002 for Training Day.

Washington was also nominated for his performances in Cry Freedom, Malcolm X, The Hurricane, Flight, Fences, Roman J. Israel, Esq. and The Tragedy of Macbeth.

In November, Washington made headlines for saying he plans to retire after his slew of upcoming acting projects.

The actor has won two Oscars previously, including this one in 2002.

“I don’t know how many more films I’m going to make. Probably not that many,” he said during an interview with Channel 9’s Today show.

“I want to do things I haven’t done. I’ve played Othello at 22, I’m about to play Othello at 70. After that I’m playing Hannibal. After that I’ve been talking with Steve McQueen about a film. After that Ryan Coogler’s writing a part for me in the next Black Panther.”

“After that I’m going to do the film Othello. After that I’m going to do King Lear. After that I’m going to retire,” he added.

But Washington later clarified his retirement comments in an interview with website BuzzFeed.

“I didn’t say I was going to go into retirement. I said that it has to be a level of interest for me,” he explained.

“I’m more interested in getting behind the camera, so that’s about five years out,” the actor added. “It’s very difficult. I may have used the word ‘retire’ … but I look at life in three sections – you learn, you earn and you return. I’m in the return part of life.”

This article originally appeared in the New York Post and was reproduced with permission.

Originally published as Denzel Washington reveals how he really feels about Oscars snub