Denzel Washington explains why he doesn’t think of himself as a ‘Hollywood’ actor

If you were pressed to list 10 'Hollywood actors', the likelihood Denzel Washington's name would crop up is quite high.

The general public would probably consider the two-time Oscar-winner to being synonymous with the term, however, it seems the 70-year-old wouldn't agree.

According to Deadline, the Barrymore Theatre production of Shakespeare's Othello has made Broadway history as it has become the top-grossing play of all time, with a staggering $2.8 million made through eight preview performances - with the record previously being set by the 2023 production of Harry Potter and the Cursed Child, which generated $2.7 million.

Washington sat down with CBS' 60 Minutes correspondent Bill Whitaker, to discuss the record-breaking Broadway show that he is starring in alongside Jake Gyllenhaal.

Denzel Washington and Jake Gyllenhaal are starring in a theatre production of Othello together (Bruce Glikas/Getty Images)

And this isn't The Equalizer star's first stab at the character of Othello as he shared: "This is a 48-year journey for me, 48 years ago I played Othello at 22 right down the block at Fordham [in the Bronx], at Lincoln Center.

"I go past it every day on my way to rehearsal it's fascinating to have been too young for the part and some may say now too old - 48 years of experience, so 48 years of pain and pleasure and life, has informed my approach to playing the role."

While his 44-year-old co-star added: "Life and death is ever-present in every moment of the show, to do it service is a lot of, a lot of hard work and we're all working very hard to try our best to do that."

The hairy topic of Washington being a 'Hollywood actor' came about when Whitaker commented on how Broadway is in for a 'star-studded season' with 'lots of Hollywood actors and producers' coming to its theaters.

Washington interjects: "What's the definition of a Hollywood actor? Myself, I'm from Mount Vernon [New York City] so I'm a Mount Vernon actor, I don't know what Hollywood means, I know it's a place."

The host replies: "I think it's somebody who's famous on film - a film actor, great success on film."

To which Washington says: "I'm a stage actor who does film, it's not the other way around. I did stage first, I learned how to act on stage not on film.

"Movies are filmmakers medium - you shoot it and then you're gone on, and they cut it together and add music and do all of that. Theater is an actor's medium - the curtain goes up and you're on, ain't nobody can help you."

Washington questioned what exactly a 'Hollywood actor' was (Kevin Winter/Getty Images)

Washington has previously spoken about the production of Othello during his promotional tour for Gladiator 2.

Before he enters retirement, he said to Today that he planned on appearing in this new Steve McQueen project and an adaption of Shakespeare's Othello.

"I played Othello at 22. I am about to play Othello at 70. After that, I am playing Hannibal. After that, I’ve been talking to Steve McQueen about a film. After that, Ryan Coogler is writing a part for me in the next 'Black Panther'." he told the outlet.

"After that, I’m going to do the film ‘Othello,’ After that, I’m going to do King Lear. After that, I’m going to retire."