When Hollywood legend Denzel Washington was first nominated for an Oscar, another star stole his thunder.
Denzel Washington is known for a stellar career in Hollywood that has earned him three Oscars. However, he has had to face a few setbacks along the way. His first Oscar nomination was no exception.
Denzel Washington had to compete with Sean Connery
As The Jasmine Brand reported in 2021, the famous actor had portrayed South African activist Steve Biko in the 1988 film Cry No More. Washington was in the running for an Oscar.
During the event, however, he had to compete against another Hollywood star – Sean Connery, of all people. Connery had played an investigator taking action against Al Capone in The Untouchables at the same time. The Oscar ultimately went to Connery.
Connery’s appearance unsettled Washington
As Washington told Jamie Foxx in an interview on his show Off Script in 2018, the following happened during the event:
I want to tell you a story about Sean Connery. He was up for All the President’s Men, I was up for Cry, the Beloved Country, and he came out to present an award and got a three-minute standing ovation – for presenting an award.
Washington improvised:
I went to get the coats. Because I know I’m not going to win tonight. So I leave without the Oscar, but as I leave, I see them setting up the food for the Governor’s Ball in the back. I see a big tray and I say, ‘I’m leaving with something. I’m from here, I’m leaving with something.’
The actor had to admit defeat to Sean Connery. Apparently, he still managed to get something out of the evening.
