Don't be afraid to fail big, to dream big. Denzel Washington More Quotes by Denzel Washington More Quotes From Denzel Washington What we did [shooting "Fences"] was we got young students from Carnegie Mellon, the acting and theater students, and we had them as our understudies. I told them, "You have to be off book and be ready. If Viola [Davis] has to leave you have to jump in." Denzel Washington shooting acting book We all are doing the best we can. I would like to say that I'm a walking poster board for feminism and women's liberation, but there are things that I do in my life that deeply, deeply fall short of being a statement for being a strong woman. I am flawed as much as anyone else. Denzel Washington strong-women feminism fall Taking the money from drug operations and all that sort of stuff is something that goes past what most of us in society would expect a policeman should do. That temptation hits the police force at the same time as the temptation to take those drugs that are readily available hits the people on the streets. Denzel Washington drug people past When people say "What do you want people to get from this movie?" I say, "Well, it depends on what they bring to it." I don't try to decide what people should get from it or why. I don't do a part for those kinds of reasons. Denzel Washington want trying people As an actor, you're a color of paint on someone else's palette. But as a director, it's your canvas and you make the painting you want to make. Denzel Washington actors color directors I even asked [Saniyya Sidney] why she wanted to be an actor and she said, "I'm serious about this. These other little kids they want to play, and I don't have time for that." Denzel Washington serious play kids Talent comes from God. If you have been given some, then value it, cultivate it, work and develop it. Denzel Washington has-beens talent given I work hard for the audience. It's entertainment. I don't need validation. Denzel Washington faith success life People have said to me for a long time, "Man you're funny." I say, "Well, I'm quick," but being funny on purpose, take after take - that's why I said for me it was new territory, and so by improvising something might come out that might be good. And it's film, so they can cut it if it isn't. Denzel Washington cutting men long I read a ton of scripts. I read a lot of scripts, and you read one, and first of all, you felt like you read it in 14 minutes, because you're turning the pages so fast you can't wait to see what's going to happen. Denzel Washington scripts pages waiting You have to grab moments when they happen. I like to improvise and ad lib. Denzel Washington faith success life I honestly believe, and I've said it many times, that the universal stems from the specific and I can't walk around with a performance and ask everyone how they feel about it, but if noble is an opinion that people have I'll accept that. I've been asked many times why I don't play bad guys, or heavies, and I would do it, absolutely, in a second, just haven't been offered any so... if anybody has a script out there tonight I'm more than willing. Denzel Washington play believe people If you don't trust the pilot, don't go. Denzel Washington trust success life [Movie "Fences"] is more than holds up today. We have had a tremendous response at the screenings. Denzel Washington screening fence today That's what I tell young actors. "You don't have to compromise. Go do some theater and wait for an appropriate role." Denzel Washington roles actors waiting I just try to be honest and true to the character and play the part. Denzel Washington play trying character As an actor in the theater you're taught that you never play a bad guy. You have to love who you are. You can't say, "Oh, I'm a bad guy." How do you play that? Denzel Washington guy actors play I'm a positive person, so I don't get bogged down with it. If you're expecting that, if you wall in that, if you practice that, then you'll attract what you fear. Denzel Washington expecting wall practice In my humble opinion, in the nuclear world, the true enemy is war itself. Denzel Washington humble war enemy Sometimes when you're the good guy, you're sort of trapped. "Oh, he can't say that." And even when you're playing a real person like a Steven Biko, you're sort of stuck within those confines. So yeah, bad guys do have more fun. Denzel Washington guy real fun