Denzel Washington, acclaimed actor and two-time Academy Award winner, is dealing with a swollen tongue that affected his speech, just months before reprising his role as Othello on Broadway.
- Feb 9, 2025
AceShowbiz - Academy Award-winning actor Denzel Washington, 70, has revealed that he bit his tongue "almost half-off" several months ago, affecting his speech and Broadway performance as Othello.
"It forces me to slow down. I have to use it," Washington said of the injury on the New York Times' "The Interview" podcast. "I have a line: 'Whither will you that I go to answer this your charge?' It's hard because my tongue is swollen. It has affected everything."
Washington did not provide details on how the accident occurred. However, he connected the incident to his faith, stating that it serves as a reminder to "pray every day."
"I'm like, 'OK, Lord, I'm here, I think this is what you wanted me to do,' " he said. "Now I'm not sure why [I bit my tongue], but one can say coincidence and serendipity and all those things."
Washington, being baptized and becoming a licensed minister in December, shared how his faith has influenced his approach to acting. "At this point, everything I'm doing is through the lens of what God thinks, not what they think," he explained. "I don't know what they think."
Despite the tongue injury, Washington remains enthusiastic about his performance in "Othello." "I've taken every job for money," he admitted. "But acting onstage brings me the greatest joy."
While Washington didn't clarify whether he received medical treatment for his tongue injury, he is not letting it hinder his performance. "You've just got to jump in the water and enjoy yourself, instead of worrying about drowning," he said.
