Denzel Washington admits alcohol abuse did a 'lot of damage' to his body as he reflects on sobriety

NEW YORK CITY, NEW YORK: Hollywood legend Denzel Washington recently reflected on his decade-long sobriety and his struggles with alcohol and drug use in a deeply personal interview with Esquire.

The 69-year-old actor, known for his Oscar-winning performances, admitted that his past habits have taken a toll on his body, though he remains optimistic about his future.

Denzel Washington in 'the last chapter, doing the best I can'

“I’ve done a lot of damage to the body,” Washington confessed. “We’ll see. I’ve been clean. Things are opening up for me now—like being seventy. It’s real. And it’s okay. This is the last chapter—if I get another thirty, what do I want to do? My mother made it to ninety-seven. I’m doing the best I can.”

Although Washington experimented with heroin and cocaine, he revealed that it was wine that truly captivated him.

“Wine is very tricky. It’s very slow. It ain’t like, boom, all of a sudden,” he explained, Marca reported.

His drinking began in the late 1990s, leading to a 15-year period of near-daily consumption. By 1999, he had even installed a 10,000-bottle wine cellar in his home.

“Wine was my thing, and now I was popping $4,000 bottles just because that’s what was left,” he said, recounting how he would regularly call Gil Turner’s Fine Wines & Spirits in Los Angeles to have two bottles delivered.

“My wife’s saying, ‘Why do you keep ordering just two?’ I said, ‘Because if I order more, I’ll drink more.’”

Reflecting on how he justified his behavior, Washington admitted, “I had this ideal idea of wine tastings and all that—which is what it was at first. And that’s a very subtle thing. I mean, I drank the best. I drank the best.”

Washington has been married to actress Pauletta Washington for over 40 years now.

Denzel Washington opens up about sobriety, fitness, and turning 70

At age 60, Washington made the life-changing decision to quit alcohol altogether.

“I stopped at 60 and I haven’t had a thimble’s worth since,” he said, as per Variety.

Along with embracing sobriety, Washington has prioritized his health by working with a personal trainer recommended by his close friend, musician Lenny Kravitz.

“About two years ago, my good friend, my little brother, Lenny Kravitz, said, ‘D, I wanna hook you up with a trainer.’ And he did,” Washington shared.

His fitness routine includes meal preparation and strength training, which has helped him shed weight and regain confidence.

“I’m now 190-something pounds on my way to 185. I feel like I’m getting strong. Strong is important.”

Stealing the spotlight in 'Gladiator II' after 10 years of sobriety

Washington’s newfound vitality is evident in his role as Macrinus in the much-anticipated 'Gladiator II.'

The actor’s performance has already garnered praise, with The Guardian’s Peter Bradshaw noting, “Washington almost steals the entire picture.”

Portraying a scheming former slave vying for power in ancient Rome, Washington has proven he still has the charisma and depth to captivate audiences.

“As Macrinus shrewdly exploits the gambling addiction of Tim McInnerny’s weak and duplicitous Senator Thraex,” Bradshaw remarked, “he delivers a performance for the ages.”

Now 10 years sober, Washington is focused on living his best life in this new phase. “Strength—forget all that [alcohol],” he declared.