Denzel Washington says he used drugs and alcohol in the past: ‘I did a lot of damage’

One of the protagonists of “Gladiator 2”, the recently released film by director Ridley Scott, Denzel Washington, 69, revealed that he had used drugs and alcohol in the past. Winner of the Oscar for Best Actor in 2002 for the film “Training Day”, he says he has been sober for at least a decade and admitted that he caused “a lot of damage” due to drinking.

Denzel recognized one specific drink as “treacherous.” “Wine is very complicated. It’s a very slow, subtle drink, and I had this ideal idea of ​​wine tastings. That was at the beginning, and then I learned the best”, he said. “I was never addicted to alcoholic beverages. Wine was my thing,” he added in an interview with Esquire magazine.

Despite his recreational drinking habit, Denzel Washington commented that he never consumed alcohol during filming. “I never drank while I was working or getting ready.” The actor also said he stopped drinking shortly after turning 60. “I did a lot of damage to the body. I’m clean.”

Regarding other drugs, the actor admitted to having used them. “I was never addicted to heroin. I was never addicted to cocaine. I was never addicted to hard drugs. I injected drugs,” he said, without giving many details.

Washington, who is about to turn 70, has already announced that he is thinking about retirement. “I don’t know how many more films I’m going to make. Probably not that many. I want to do things I haven’t done yet”, he concluded.