Actors in Tinseltown often take on roles that push them outside of their comfort zones. Few actors understand this better. Case in point: Denzel Washington, whose portrayal of American Muslim minister and civil rights leader in Malcolm X was filled with intense dedication—and, unexpectedly, tangible fear.
Before slipping into the character for Spike Lee’s Oscar-nominated masterpiece, Washington’s introduction to Malcolm X was somewhat limited, confined to his stage performance in When the Chickens Come Home to Roost. Learning more about Malcolm’s life’s complexities, the weight of the role grew apparent, leaving a lasting imprint on Washington’s psyche.
The actor, 69, appreciated for his dynamic performances, found himself in uncharted waters—it wasn’t just the challenge of embodying such a complex real-life character but also stepping onto a stage where politics could translate into a real threat to one’s safety.
Denzel Washington’s Safety Fears While Portraying Malcolm X on Screen
As mentioned above, Denzel Washington’s journey into the role of Malcolm X began with his involvement in the play When the Chickens Come Home to Roost. Even though the actor did not know much about the civil rights activist beforehand, he began to realize how big of a responsibility he was about to take on after learning more about the character’s life and legacy.
As the Oscar-winning actor astutely remarked to The New York Times:
“I didn’t have a view of Malcolm then.”
Washington came to comprehend the importance of his role after learning a little bit more about Malcolm:
“I remember feeling two ways: Like this was heavy, mean stuff and also like this was helping me get some things off my chest. There was something invigorating about being able to say things you felt.”
Director Spike Lee’s vision for the film touched on sensitive and controversial topics, which added to the strain Washington felt in bringing Malcolm X’s story to life on the big screen. With the potential for backlash from various groups, Washington and Lee found themselves in a precarious position.
At one point throughout the filming, Washington and Lee expressed veritable concerns for their safety, according to an interview with Time Out. The film was dealing with a profound subject, and the political environment around it was charged with tension. Washington added.
“S***, we were worrying about getting killed. You’re talking about politics, we were trying to stay alive. Put it this way: we were stepping on some serious toes. And I’m not just talking about the studio.”
Notwithstanding the difficulties and dangers, the $48 million movie (The Numbers) received glowing reviews from critics. Washington received high appreciation for his portrayal of Malcolm X and received an Academy Award nomination for Best Actor.
Understanding Denzel Washington’s Stand Against Winning an Oscar for Malcolm X
How often are the actors who truly delivered the greatest performances in a given year given the Oscars?
To begin answering that question, let us pose another: why do so few actors appear to receive Academy Awards nominations for roles that are widely considered to be their best? Consider the esteemed stage and film veteran Denzel Washington, who has won two Oscars thus far: one for Glory and the other for Training Day.
Was he truly deserving of winning both? Sure, he is Denzel Washington, after all!
But why did Washington not win an Oscar for Malcolm X, a legendary Spike Lee production that many movie buffs contend features the actor at the height of his career? In an interview with DVD Talk, Lee briefly pondered about it, saying:
“I’m not the only one who thinks Denzel was robbed on that one. But there were a lot of people involved that deserve recognition. We did get two nominations, Ruth Carter for Costume Design, and Denzel.”
Nevertheless, if Lee was voicing his opinions, Washington had quite different views on the subject. Not only could he accept the defeat of Malcolm X, but the latter even admitted he was not interested in winning that particular year. Washington stated in a 2013 interview with Playboy that he is actually relieved he did not rout Al Pacino (Scent of a Woman) to win the Oscar for Malcolm X. In his words:
“The opposite is true. There have been times when I didn’t want to win. When Pacino won for ‘Scent of a Woman’, I was up for ‘Malcolm X.’ I didn’t want to win that time. I would have felt badly.”
Regardless, we can’t deny that Washington’s experience filming Malcolm X mirrors the power of storytelling and the risks that actors sometimes take in order to bring important narratives to life.
Stream Malcolm X on Amazon Prime Video.
