Speaking in an interview with Christian entertainment site Movieguide, Christian actor Denzel Washington explained how his time on the set of Fences, a movie he starred in, reminded him of his spiritual journey and how he left his life of sin behind and eventually picked back up with his Christian faith.
The Amazon Prime description of Fences, provides, “Set in 1950s Pittsburgh, the film adaptation of August Wilson’s Pulitzer Prize-winning play takes a passionate look at former baseball player Troy Maxson as he fights to provide for those he loves in a world that threatens to push him down.”
Washington, asked about the movie and how it reminds him of his faith journey and his father’s faith journey, described it as being a “hell to hallelujah” story. The interviewer asked, “Does it remind you, you know, I was reading about your father as a minister. Does that remind you of your your father’s faith or is it a part of something a part of you?”
Responding, Washington said, “Well, it’s a spiritual journey that even Troy takes. He just doesn’t know it. I call it from hell to hallelujah. Because early on he just ‘oh hell this and hell that,’ but one of the last things he says is ‘Hallelujah!’
That came after Washington was asked, “Do you think the faith of Violet’s character kind of is what holds the family together?” Responding, he told the interviewer, “Absolutely. We did. That’s why I used to take when she says some of them will God’s the one and he goes, like, he doesn’t want to hear it. Here’s a man they want to hear about God. He thinks he can handle the devil and control death. He had lessons he needed to learn.”
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Washington previously said, when asked how he and his wife of 34 years, Pauletta, have survived so many years in the spotlight, “By the grace of God. Really, I’m not taking credit.” He continued, “And a great wife. A strong, strong, strong (woman) … she has done the heavy lifting. She has been the consistent one. She has given daily religious instruction. She makes breakfast, she took them to school. I was out killing the lion, bringing home the meat, you know, providing.”
In that same interview, he described how he aims to serve God through his work, saying, “You know, I’m in the service business now. I’m fine. I’ve done well. I don’t need anything else. I don’t need watches and jewelry and all that. So I’m here to serve. I’m here to serve God, I’m here to serve my family, I’m here to serve.”
Further, Mykelti Williamson, an actress in the film, praised Denzel, saying he was a strong, Godly leader for the actors and actresses on set. She said, “Every day this leader, Denzel, brings the Word. On Broadway we would circle and have a word of prayer, we would cover one another, and he was serious about it, every single day. ‘Alright, we’re about to bring the Word,’ and Denzel was waiting for you and you’d better be on time.”
Featured image credit: By GabboT – The Equalizer 08, CC BY-SA 2.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=35547275