HOLLYWOOD, CA—Before he became the commanding, two-time Oscar-winning leading man whose name guarantees box office draw, Denzel Washington confessed to a severe case of self-doubt. The turning point came in 1987 with the film Cry Freedom, a role of such immense historical and dramatic weight that Washington admitted, “I’m Not Sure I Can Do It.”
Yet, the subsequent validation from that performance—culminating in his first Academy Award nomination—gave Washington the undeniable confidence to permanently step out of supporting roles and declare, with authority, “This Is My Time.”
📺 The Pre-Breakthrough Strategy: Caution and St. Elsewhere
Washington’s early career in the 1980s was marked by careful, deliberate caution. While he achieved widespread prominence as Dr. Phillip Chandler in the hit television drama St. Elsewhere (1982–1988), he was extremely discerning about his film choices. High-profile, dramatic film roles for young Black actors were scarce, forcing Washington to frequently say no to parts he felt were stereotypical or beneath his dramatic potential.
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Mentorship: Washington reportedly took advice from legendary actor Sidney Poitier, who stressed that an actor’s first few film choices would irrevocably define their career in Hollywood.
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Early Filmography: Before 1987, Washington’s roles were strategically selected supporting parts, notably as Private First Class Melvin Peterson in A Soldier’s Story (1984) and Arnold Billings in Power (1986). This caution ensured he avoided being prematurely “typecast.”
🇿🇦 The Biko Burden: A Role of Immense Responsibility
The challenge arrived with the offer to play South African anti-apartheid activist Steve Biko in Richard Attenborough’s 1987 epic, Cry Freedom.
Steve Biko was a revered, charismatic figure who founded the Black Consciousness Movement in South Africa and died tragically in police custody in 1977. Playing him required Washington to carry the weight of an international symbol.
Washington’s initial hesitation—“[I’m Not Sure I Can Do It]”—stemmed from the profound pressure to honor Biko’s legacy on a global stage. The film follows Biko’s friendship with the liberal white newspaper editor Donald Woods. While Biko’s character leaves the narrative halfway through (following his death), Washington’s performance was universally hailed as the emotional soul of the movie.
🏆 The Declaration of Independence: “This Is My Time”
The immense dramatic heft Washington exhibited was formally recognized in 1988 when he earned his first Academy Award nomination for Best Supporting Actor for Cry Freedom.
This nomination served as the career catalyst. It was the definitive moment Hollywood recognized not just his talent, but his dramatic depth and undeniable box-office potential, allowing him to step firmly into the spotlight.
Data Point: The Immediate Career Shift
The critical acclaim of Cry Freedom triggered a permanent, measurable shift in Washington’s filmography:
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Second Oscar & First Win: He received his second Oscar nomination (and first win) just two years later for a supporting role as the rebellious Private Silas Trip in Edward Zwick’s Civil War masterpiece, Glory (1989). However, his career trajectory had already pivoted.
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Leading Man Status: Washington’s very next major film, Carl Schenkel’s The Mighty Quinn (1989), saw him in a clear leading role as police chief Xavier Quinn. This was immediately followed by his first collaboration with director Spike Lee, Mo’ Better Blues (1990), where he starred as the jazz trumpeter protagonist, Bleek Gilliam.
The Oscar nomination was the final stamp of industry approval, granting Washington the clout to pursue the substantial, uncompromising leading roles he had always sought. It was the moment he turned his self-doubt into bold ambition, permanently fulfilling the declaration that, after years of patient, strategic waiting, “This Is My Time.”