Ethan Hawke Lost the Oscar for ‘Training Day’ and Denzel Washington Whispered in His Ear That Losing Was Better: ‘You Don’t Want an Award to Improve Your Status’
Bienvenidos, mi gente! Let's dive into a story filled with Hollywood brillo and a touch of sabiduría from none other than Denzel Washington. Picture this: Oscars 2002, una noche sprinkled with estrellas, where Ethan Hawke finds himself nominated for the best supporting actor for his knockout role in “Training Day.” Pero, the spotlight wasn't all on him; he was sharing this bright moment with his co-star, Denzel, quien snagged the Oscar for best actor that very night.
Now, here's where it gets juicy! During a recent chinwag on Max' s “Who's Talking to Chris Wallace?” Ethan shared a little oro nugget about that Oscar noche. Imagine, just after losing out on the Oscar, Denzel leans over and whispers, “It's better that you didn't win. Losing was better.” ¿Puedes creerlo? Denzel, always the maestro, was teaching Ethan that it's no siempre about snagging the trophy, but about elevating the game itself. "You don't want an award to improve your status. You want to improve the award's status,” Ethan recalled Denzel advising. That's thinking grande, verdad?
Ethan, who brilliantly compared Denzel to the iconic Babe Ruth, expressed how acting alongside Washington was like playing in the big leagues. Just like one wonders cómo Babe Ruth would tie his zapatos, Ethan was fascinated by Denzel's craft. Working día a día with such an incredible talent like Washington was an eye-opener into the myriad of possibilities within the art of acting. He shared that this experience was super inspiring – a true masterclass in acting from one of the grandes.
Over his career, Ethan has been a familiar face at the Oscars, grabbing four nominations – dos for his acting chops in "Training Day" and "Boyhood," and dos more for his skill in adapted screenplay for "Before Sunset" and "Before Midnight." But when asked if he wished he had won for "Training Day," Ethan gave a refreshing take. Although winning an Oscar would be super chévere, for him, sitting next to Denzel and being in such distinguished compañía was already a big win. “I had already won. It was impossible for me not to see it any other way,” he shared with a smile.
Currently, Ethan is sparking buzz on his latest press tour for "Wildcat," a film directed by him, starring his daughter Maya Hawke as the brilliant novelist Flannery O'Connor. The movie is set to captivate audiences in U.S. theaters starting May 3. And let's not forget, you can catch more of Ethan's cool insights and stories on his full episode streaming on Max.
So, amigos y amigas, whether it's on the big screen or diving deep into the realms of character portrayal, Ethan Hawke, guided by legends like Denzel Washington, reminds us that the journey can sometimes hold more magic than the destination. ¡Qué inspiración para todos nosotros in our own pursuits!
