Colman Domingo Reveals Denzel Washington's 'Great Pearl' of Advice Before He Made Oscar History (Exclusive)

Mar. 15, 2025

Colman Domingois the first performer to score back-to-back Best Actor Oscar nominations sinceDenzel Washingtonearned the honor forFencesandRoman J. Israel Esq. in 2017 and 2018.

As Domingo — nominated last year forRustinand this year forSing Sing— finds himself in the midst of another competitive awards season, he can’t help but think about words of wisdom Washington, 70, once offered him more than five years ago.

“He said, ‘You know, Colman. A lot of times, for a long time, you think it’s about the awards. Then you start winning all the awards. And you’ll realize at some point it’s not about the awards, it’s about thereward,’” remembers Domingo.

“The acknowledgement, the awards are great stuff, but it’s the reward of doing good work and making good work happen, and figuring that out for yourself."

Colman Domingo (left) on Feb. 6 and Denzel Washington (right) in 2024.Jon Kopaloff/Getty; Noam Galai/Getty

Jon Kopaloff/Getty; Noam Galai/Getty

“So I think he knew the territory that I was leaning into and he wanted to remind me what it’s actually about,” continues Domingo.

“I love the idea of being feted and winning these awards, and being acknowledged is so fantastic and wonderful, because it gives you more fuel to keep doing what you’re doing. But it is about the reward,” says the former star ofFear the Walking Dead.

Colman Domingo.Obidigbo Nzerib

Obidigbo Nzerib

Domingo says it’s why he’s grateful to be traversing new projects in the midst of this special time.

“That’s why I always love that I have some work in between during this award season, because it helps remind me what it’s really about. It’s about creating more work and creating more work for others and a new platform, so that’s where you find the joy, and it’s the truth,” he says. “So that’s a great pearl from Denzel.”

Colman Domingo (left) and Clarence Maclin in ‘Sing Sing.'.A24

A24

Washington, a 10-time Oscar nominee, has won twice: Best Supporting Actor in 1990 (forGlory) and Best Actor in 2002 (forTraining Day). He was most recently nominated for Best Actor in 2022 forThe Tragedy of Macbeth.

Domingo calls his nomination forSing Sing— in which he plays an incarcerated man who starts an arts therapy program while serving his time — “really meaningful” because of the story the film tells.

“It’s really about the hope and the possibility of what happens when you pour art and hope and faith into a human being,” says Domingo, who played civil rights activist Bayard Rustin inRustin.

“And especially coming off of the nomination forRustin, which was really about amplifying that spirit of hope and courage and faith and civil rights to make sure everyone can benefit, I feel like it’s a beautiful alignment with what I care about,” he adds.

source: people.com