David Marchese

From The New York Times, this is The Interview. I'm David Marchese. So many of Denzel Washington's greatest performances have been defined by a riveting sense of authority, an absence of any pandering or need to be liked. There's something deep down inside his characters that feels unassailable, a little enigmatic, and theirs alone.

The same steely qualities that have helped Washington become a legend also, as I learned firsthand, make for an unusual and unusually complicated conversationalist. The first of our two discussions was done remotely. He was at a photo studio in Los Angeles, as the fires were still raging there, and I was home in New Jersey. This discussion felt as if it were being conducted entirely on his terms.

The same steely qualities that have helped Washington become a legend also, as I learned firsthand, make for an unusual and unusually complicated conversationalist. The first of our two discussions was done remotely. He was at a photo studio in Los Angeles, as the fires were still raging there, and I was home in New Jersey. This discussion felt as if it were being conducted entirely on his terms.

Or let me put it like this. I didn't feel like we ever quite figured out how to connect. The second time we talked, a little over a week later, things were different. I met him in person at a space in Manhattan where he was rehearsing for a rare Broadway appearance. He's playing Othello in a new production that co-stars Jake Gyllenhaal as Iago and is directed by the Tony Award winner Kenny Leon.

Or let me put it like this. I didn't feel like we ever quite figured out how to connect. The second time we talked, a little over a week later, things were different. I met him in person at a space in Manhattan where he was rehearsing for a rare Broadway appearance. He's playing Othello in a new production that co-stars Jake Gyllenhaal as Iago and is directed by the Tony Award winner Kenny Leon.

I can't really say why with any certainty, but things just felt easier with him this time. What I do know, though, is that after it was all over, I was left with an experience just as memorable as one of his performances. Here's my conversation with Denzel Washington. Hello, I'm David. How are you, David Denzel? Nice to meet you.

I can't really say why with any certainty, but things just felt easier with him this time. What I do know, though, is that after it was all over, I was left with an experience just as memorable as one of his performances. Here's my conversation with Denzel Washington. Hello, I'm David. How are you, David Denzel? Nice to meet you.

Just to start, I saw that right at the end of last year, you were baptized and earned your minister's license?

Just to start, I saw that right at the end of last year, you were baptized and earned your minister's license?

Can you tell me about the decision to go through that process at this point in your life?

Can you tell me about the decision to go through that process at this point in your life?

Your father was a preacher, is that right?

Your father was a preacher, is that right?

Do you feel like you're sort of following in a family tradition in some sense or connecting with him?

Do you feel like you're sort of following in a family tradition in some sense or connecting with him?

I've seen you refer to the prophecy. Can you tell folks the story?

I've seen you refer to the prophecy. Can you tell folks the story?

This is Mount Vernon, New York, right?

This is Mount Vernon, New York, right?

But was your gift for acting and the career that you've had, do you feel like any sort of message was being delivered through that? Or was acting totally, you know, did it turn out that it was totally separate from the... No, I wouldn't say it's either or.