Denzel Washington was baptized and licensed to minister in a New York church, pictured

In the days leading up to his 70th birthday, Washington shared his joy and reflections on the milestone. “I’ll be 70 in a week. It took a while, but I’m still here,” he expressed gratitude after the baptism. He also thanked his wife, Pauletta Washington, for her support in his spiritual journey.

Throughout his career, Washington has been open about his Christian faith. in previous interviews EsquireHe boldly stated that while religion may be a sensitive or “unfashionable” topic in Hollywood, he is not afraid to speak openly about his faith. “I’m not afraid. I don’t care what other people think,” he wrote in an article for the magazine. He added that while it may not be common to discuss faith in Hollywood, that doesn’t diminish the fact that many in the industry share his faith. Washington also noted that there is no “Hollywood” about religion, emphasizing the individuality of each person’s spiritual journey.

Meanwhile, Washington’s career continues to flourish. He is currently receiving critical acclaim for his role in the film Gladiator IIRidley Scott’s highly anticipated sequel to the 2000 epic. In the film, Washington stars alongside Paul Mescal, Pedro Pascal, Connie Nielsen and Joseph Quinn. besides his work Gladiator IIThe Oscar winner revealed he had a role in the film black panther 3director Ryan Coogler wrote a role specifically for him.

Speaking about his career, Washington shared his current focus: “At this point in my career, I’m only interested in working with the best people. I don’t know how many more movies I’m going to make, probably not There will be so many. I want to do something that I haven’t done yet.” He revealed some exciting upcoming projects, including portraying. Othello At age 70, he played Hannibal and collaborated with director Steve McQueen on a future movie. However, this is his comment black panther 3 This gets the most attention. Washington confirmed his involvement in the Marvel series, adding: “After that, Ryan Coogler is writing a character for me in the next one. black panther. Then I’m going to make a movie Othello. after that i have to do king lear. After that, I’m going to retire. “

Washington’s impressive body of work includes his Academy Award glory (1989) and training day (2001). As his 70th birthday approaches, the actor’s personal growth and professional aspirations continue to inspire fans and the film industry.