Hollywood legend Denzel Washington, who is currently making headlines with his role in Gladiator 2, recently revealed about an important moment in his career during an interview. SirReflecting on winning the Best Actor Oscar at the hands of Kevin Spacey in 2000, Washington shared candid thoughts on how the experience shaped his outlook on awards, his art, and personal growth.

“I think I won a Golden Globe for Hurricane – look, I barely remember now, isn’t that crazy?” He told.

“But then, at the Oscars, they called out Kevin Spacey’s name for American Beauty. I remember looking back at him, and there was no one standing except the people around him. And everyone else was looking at me… I guess I felt the same way. Maybe I felt like everyone was looking at me.”

Washington admitted that the loss affected him more than he initially realized, leading to a period of bitterness. “I’m sure I went home that night and drank. I had to. I lived through a time when Pauletta (his wife) used to watch all the Oscar movies. I told him, ‘I don’t care about it. Hey, they don’t care about me? I don’t care.’ I gave up. I became bitter. My pity party. For about fifteen years, from 1999 to 2014 when I stopped drinking, I became bitter.

Reflecting on Spacey’s controversies, Washington said, “There was talk in town about what was going on across the street, and that’s between him and God. I have nothing to do with him. I pray for him. It’s between him and his creator.

Two years after losing to Spacey, Washington won the Best Actor Oscar for his stellar performance in Training Day (2001), joining his previous win for Best Supporting Actor in Glory (1989).

With eight Oscar nominations, Washington remains one of Hollywood’s most celebrated actors.