Oscar-winning actor Denzel Washington refuses to be neatly labeled by Katie Couric, and it is as refreshing as it is inspiring.
The interview took place back in 2004, but the interaction is surprisingly relevant today. Couric was clearly trying to bait Washington into giving a “typical” celebrity answer, But the classy star simply was not having it.
The Scene: Denzel Washington Appears on “Dateline NBC”
Washington was on the program to promote his movie “The Manchurian Candidate”. Everything was going smoothly until Couric tried to insert politics into the conversation.
Couric asked him if “Hollywood folks should stick to acting.”
Washington bristled at being put in a box and fired back:
“I don’t know what Hollywood folks are, first of all. Hollywood is a town that has some stars on the sidewalk. I don’t know anybody from there. So, I don’t — that’s like saying — calling you a ‘type’ of folks,” he said.
“I’m not a Hollywood folk. I don’t know who they are.”
Couric quickly backpedaled and tried again. “Are you one of those people that –”
Washington immediately cut her off, saying, “Ah, there you go. Am I one of those people? Hmmm, isn’t that interesting?”
Couric was taken aback and said, “Oh, stop, stop, stop.” But Washington was not done yet.
He replied, “No, don’t stop. I heard what you just said. ‘Am I one of those people?’ No, I’m not,”
Couric still missed his point. She tried again to rephrase her question. “No, are you an actor who would rather not –”.
Washington finally shut down that line of questioning with a crystal-clear and unequivocal statement:
“No, I’m not that either. I’m a human being. My job is acting.”
Thank You Denzel Washington
In a world where too many celebrities act like their status somehow entitles them to tell the rest of us how to think, Washington has the perfect perspective. The people we call stars are just that: PEOPLE. They are human beings like the rest of us, and their non-expert opinions should never influence your vote.
That means all the Alyssa Milanos, Rosie O’Donnells, Jim Carrys, Madonnas, and Kathy Griffins of the world could learn a lesson from Denzel Washington.