Denzel Washington

Growing up I didn't watch movies.

I had a lot of success from the start. I never really was tested for long periods of time. I got my first professional job while I was a senior in college. I signed with the William Morris Agency before I graduated.

You have to grab moments when they happen. I like to improvise and ad lib.

In any profession it gets to be a grind.

My mother never gave up one me. I messed up in school so much they were sending me home, but my mother sent me right back.

I wasn't allowed to go to movies when I was kid; my father was a minister. 101 Dalmatians and King of Kings, that was the extent of it.

I think a role model is a mentor - someone you see on a daily basis, and you learn from them.

I like talking. I like acting.

Black or white good parts are hard to come by. A good actor with a good opportunity has a shot; without the opportunity it doesn't matter how good you are.

You don't know when you're being watched. That's one of the weird things about celebrity. It's my least favorite part of acting, celebrity.

One good thing about acting in film is that it's good therapy.

When people protest and are upset with a movie, it becomes a big hit. They hated Passion of The Christ, it worked out pretty well for the box office. So let's get that going.