Podcast Summary: This Life of Mine with James Corden

Episode: Denzel Washington
Date: February 24, 2026
Host: James Corden (for Lemonada Media)

Episode Overview

This richly reflective episode features Denzel Washington, legendary actor, director, producer, and two-time Academy Award winner. In a candid conversation with James Corden, Denzel revisits the pivotal people, places, memories, music, and experiences that shaped his life and career. The dialogue traverses his upbringing in New York, the crucial decisions that set him on another path, his unwavering faith, musings on retirement, familial pride, and the music that moves him.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Place: Mount Vernon, New York

Timestamp: 04:17 – 06:52

• Denzel’s Roots:
  Denzel grew up in Mount Vernon, right across from the Bronx, a home he describes with simple affection:

  "That's my home. That's where I grew up. So it's not like I didn't have any of that, what you just talked about. Yeah, I grew up there. I got my freedom at 11 when I got a bike, right? So when I got a bicycle, I was ready to roll." (05:44)

• Youthful Freedom & Forks in the Road:
  At age 13, Denzel went to boarding school in upstate New York—a decision that, in his words, probably saved his life:

  "Why did I go to boarding school? Because I would have been in the penitentiary otherwise... By the grace of God, I didn't do a day." (06:08)

• Parallel Paths:
  Denzel’s account of his old friend Roy, who served decades in prison, underscores a sharp fork in the road:

  "At 13, I went upstate New York. And at 13, he stayed in the projects." (07:49)

2. Early Acting Aspirations

Timestamp: 09:03 – 11:25

• Finding Acting—Almost by Accident:
  Denzel’s journey to acting was not preordained; he began college wanting to be a doctor, only for acting to "find him."

  "I wanted to be a doctor. No. But acting just found me." (09:23)

• Early Flops & Musicals:
  His early acting attempts? Not all were triumphs:

  "You know, are we ever gonna see the Denzel Washington musical?"
  "No. Because I can't sing." (09:47)
  "I did a little musical... That didn't go so well." (09:51)

3. Family & Legacy in the Arts

Timestamp: 10:38 – 13:05; 27:04 – 28:15

• Children’s Artistic Pursuits:
  Denzel’s children have followed creative paths, a passion he credits to his wife, Pauletta:

  "My wife loves movies, so they all grew up watching movies... They learned to love movies, I think with mom, just watching movies." (10:45)

• “They got it honest from both sides”:
  Pauletta’s musical genius and his own career made for a rich artistic environment:

  "My wife was a child prodigy Van Cliburn competitor... They got it honest from both sides." (11:05)

• Pride in Son’s Accomplishments:
  Denzel’s youngest son, Malcolm, directed a family affair film ("Piano Lesson") and Denzel’s pride is clear:

  "Malcolm, my youngest son, is very talented, very smart. UPenn graduate, graduated number one in his class at the American Film Institute directing program. So he's the real deal." (28:02)

4. The Stage vs. The Screen

Timestamp: 12:00 – 13:36

• The Enduring Pull of Theater:
  Denzel’s first love has always been the stage:

  "I've never been a film person. You know, I started in theater... I thought I was going to be on Broadway and make $600 a week one day and that would be it. And that was good enough." (11:25)

• Returning to Stage:
  Family obligations kept him from theater for a spell, but he returned once his children were grown:

  "I couldn't go back [to stage] because of the children... Once they got to a certain age then I went back to Broadway in 2016 with Fences, but I did something before that." (13:05)

5. The Film That Formed Him: Shaft

Timestamp: 13:36 – 14:26

• Impact of “Shaft”:

  "My four best friends, that's where we were... going to the city, you see, we probably saw it on 42nd Street... hadn't seen anyone like that." (13:39)

• Representation:
  Movies like Shaft and Superfly offered representation and inspiration for young Denzel and his friends.

6. On Gratitude, Faith, and Prophecy

Timestamp: 15:43 – 19:58

• Prophecy and Purpose:
  Denzel recounts a prophecy given to him just before he began acting:

  "It was prophesied that I would travel the world and preach to millions of people. That's what the woman wrote in a prophecy." (15:43)

• Spiritual Experience – “Face of God” Story:
  In a moving story, Denzel describes a moment on a boat where he prayed to see God’s face, only to have a vivid encounter:

  "As I was saying, I want to see your face. I heard as clear as day. I heard, 'Turn to your left.' I turned to my left... took the picture. This is what I saw." (18:26)
  (The photo showed a cloud formation resembling a human face.)

  "God is good. God is great. The opposite of fear is faith. But it's difficult in these times to have faith." (19:18)

• Faith vs. Religion:
  Denzel distinguishes between faith and religion, focusing more on purpose and connection than dogma.

7. Giving Back & Generational Wisdom

Timestamp: 16:15 – 17:24

• On Influence:

  "We're there to do a job. If asked, I share. I'm not there to preach or teach. I'm there to do my job..." (16:43)

• Advice for Young Actors:

  "Theater is an actor's medium. Get on the stage is what I tell..." (17:24)

8. Reflections on Mortality and Retirement

Timestamp: 26:04 – 27:04

• Retirement and Next Chapter:

  "The reason I'm talking about retirement now as an actor is because God has more important things for me to do. I don't know when, but I'm grateful for opportunities like this because this is what it's really about." (24:10)
  "Seven more August Wilson plays to produce... I love being by the sea. I love the water. So I may have to work a little longer to get one more piece of property. That's what I'm really saying – this house I want to get." (26:22)

Notable Quotes & Moments

• On nearly going down the wrong path:

  "My three best friends probably did 100 years between the three of them... By the grace of God, I didn’t do a day." (06:14)

• On his mother’s foresight:

  "My mother saw it. My mother saw it. What I couldn't see. And she was right." (06:33)

• On acting and serendipity:

  "Acting just found me." (09:23)

• On representation (regarding Shaft):

  "Hadn’t seen anyone like that." (13:39)

• On stage vs screen:

  "Stage is an actor’s medium. Get on the stage is what I tell." (17:24)

• On faith and clarity:

  "God is good. God is great. The opposite of fear is faith. But it’s difficult in these times to have faith." (19:18)

• On his life’s purpose:

  "I know who I belong to, and I know where I’m going. So I just want to do God’s will until He calls me home, period." (25:46)

Timestamps for Important Segments

• [04:17] Denzel discusses Mount Vernon & New York childhood
• [06:08] Fork in the road—boarding school vs staying in the Bronx
• [09:08] Discovering acting (“Acting just found me”)
• [10:45] Family and artistic heritage
• [13:39] The impact of "Shaft" and representation
• [15:43] The prophecy about preaching to millions
• [18:06] The “Face of God” story on the boat
• [19:18] Faith and contemporary challenges
• [17:24] Advice to young actors—do theater
• [24:10] Early faith experiences and thoughts on retirement
• [27:04] Family as his chosen person—particularly Pauletta
• [28:21] Music choice: "Soulful Strut" by Young Holt Unlimited

Music & Cultural Touchstones

• Music Choice: "Soulful Strut" by Young Holt Unlimited (1968)

• Why the song?

  "And I remember the dance we used to do to it. Something where you put your foot over. Something like that." (29:20)

• Music’s Role:
  Denzel’s musical influences are diverse; his wife’s musicianship is a key part of the family culture:

  "My wife introduced me to Miles Davis. She was, like, under his wing. And I’m all over the place. Music, though. Yeah." (29:37)

Final Reflections

Denzel Washington’s episode is a portrait of an artist grounded in faith, humility, gratitude, and enduring love for his family and craft. While uninterested in cinematic glory, his stories reveal a deep awareness of providence, a sense of mission beyond acting, and an unpretentious appreciation for the joys and responsibilities that have defined his journey. The episode is rich in wisdom, humor, and authenticity—a valuable listen for fans and newcomers alike.