Denzel Washington, the two-time Academy Award winner and cinematic legend at 70, has opened up about his ongoing battle with speech impediments, months after a freak accident nearly cost him half of his tongue. As he gears up to reprise the title role in "Othello" on Broadway, opposite Jake Gyllenhaal, with previews kicking off on February 24th for a 15-week run, Washington revealed to The New York Times in an expansive interview published on Saturday how this peculiar injury has "cast a shadow over every aspect" of his life.
"A couple of months back, I chomped down on my tongue so hard, it was nearly severed in half," shared the Westchester-bred actor. "This has certainly thrown a wrench in my speech. It compels me to articulate at a snail's pace. I have to push through it," he continued.
Washington highlighted a particular line from the play, "'Whither will you that I go to answer this is your charge?'" and confessed, "Saying it is a struggle because my tongue is still swollen," exhibiting the humility of a seasoned performer like himself, known for films such as "Fences," which he also directed.
Although Washington refrained from elaborating on the exact circumstances of his tongue-biting mishap or whether he sought medical attention, his determination to deliver a stellar performance remains unwavering, amidst laughter and enjoyment. He metaphorically equated his situation to diving into the deep end of a pool: "You might as well plunge in and savor the swim, rather than dread the prospect of drowning."
Washington's lead role in "Othello" marks his triumphant return to Broadway following his 2018 stint in the revival of "The Iceman Cometh." In the intervening almost seven years, he has headlined two installments of "The Equalizer," starred in Joel Coen's film adaptation of "Macbeth," and featured in the box-office smash "Gladiator II."
Yet, despite being a global cinematic giant, it is the stage that brings Washington his purest bliss, though he candidly admits that financial considerations have always been paramount when selecting projects. "I've taken every gig for the paycheck," he confessed to the Times. "Not once have I declined a role thinking, 'Keep the money, I'm just thrilled to be acting.'"
