Here’s why Denzel Washington is not upset about ‘Gladiator II’ Oscar snub
Hollywood star Denzel Washington is not losing sleep over his exclusion from the best supporting actor race at the 2025 Academy Awards
Published on Feb 9, 2025
By IANS
- LOS ANGELES — Hollywood star Denzel Washington is not losing sleep over his
exclusion from the best supporting actor race at the 2025 Academy Awards.
- Washington spoke to the New York Times about his reaction to
being snubbed by the Academy for his performance in Ridley Scott’s “Gladiator
II,” reports variety.com.
- “Are you kidding me? Awww. Oh, I’m so upset,” Washington
quipped.
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- He added: “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,” he continued.
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- The star said that he is “getting wiser”.
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- “The beginning of wisdom is understanding. I’m getting
wiser, working on talking less and learning to understand more — and that’s
exciting.”
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- Washington added that performing the role of “Othello” on
Broadway is rewarding enough, Oscar nomination or not.
-
- “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.'”
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- Though the Academy didn’t recognise Washington for the
performance, his turn as power broker Macrinus in “Gladiator II” earned him
nominations for best supporting actor at the Golden Globes, Critics Choice
Awards, NAACP Image and Satellite Awards.
-
- The actor’s no stranger to winning Oscars, either.
Washington previously won best supporting actor for 1990’s “Glory” and best
leading actor for “Training Day” in 2002.
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- He wasn’t the only member of the “Gladiator II” cast and
crew absent from 2025 Oscar nominations as the film earned just a single nod,
for Janty Yates and David Crossman’s costume design.
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- “Gladiator II” is a sequel to 2000’s Gladiator. It stars
Paul Mescal, Pedro Pascal, Joseph Quinn, Fred Hechinger, Lior Raz, Derek
Jacobi, Connie Nielsen, and Denzel Washington.
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- Jacobi and Nielsen reprise their roles from the first film,
with Mescal replacing Spencer Treat Clark. Mescal portrays Lucius Verus
Aurelius, the exiled Prince of Rome, who becomes a prisoner of war and fights
as a gladiator for Macrinus, a former slave who plots to overthrow the twin
emperors Geta and Caracalla.
