Denzel Washington Heartthrob and Humanitarian

Black women love, love, love them some Denzel Washington. The reasons are as varied as the roles he’s played. So when we asked a cross-section of women — from 20-somethings to empty nesters — to tell us what they like about Denzel, their e-mailed responses nearly put our server on life support.

“He’s fine, he’s sexy and he can act.”

“His authentic and affable smile.”

“The first things that flashes to mind (and there are a lot of flashes with him and that winning smile) is the many times I’ve seen him posed with his wife, Pauletta. The image is that of a faithful husband and devoted father, which makes him even more of an enigma. His chiseled, but still boyish good looks, pantherlike swagger and composed, confident demeanor make him an all-American; make that all-African American heartthrob.”

“He’s got that mischievous boy-next-door kind of allure. Something about that grin that makes you think there is something back there in the recesses that if unleashed could make him a ‘real bad boy.’ ”

“My mother and I were watching Devil in a Blue Dress, and when my brother got annoyed at our unrelenting commentary about how fine he is, he bet me $50 that he could walk like Denzel. Maybe Mom and I were just so worked up about Denzel, but the bottom line is that my brother got to keep the $50, [his rendition] was close enough to make it worth it.”

“You know how some people can make anything exciting? Even watching paint dry? That’s Denzel. He really brings something new and different to every role.”

“I would like him a whole lot more if he’d married me instead of Pauletta, lol. Seriously though, his dedication to his family is part of his appeal. The maddening part.”

“The man is pretty, I can’t lie, but his acting gets me into the theater. That’s what I tell my significant other anyway.”

“The best role Denzel has ever played was American Gangster; to me it trumped his Training Day character because he was so strong, loving and a provider. He possessed all of the characteristics of my own father.”

Whew! The ladies have spoken. Clearly many feel proprietary toward him; note that most use his first name. Perhaps that’s because there’s something familiar about him, something we can’t quite name, but whatever it is, it makes us comfortable enough to just lay claim to his given name, no mister to preface it, thank you very much.

Putting in the Work
“What I like most about Denzel is his down-to-earth personality. Denzel has the ability to make you feel the character he’s playing. He can play any role. Acting is Denzel’s calling or should I say ‘gift.’ He is one of my favorite actors.”

“I think what makes Denzel stand out besides being a handsome man, are his movie choices. He is a great actor and should have won an Oscar for Malcolm X, but we all know politics is everywhere.”

Denzel exploded into our sensibilities in Glory (1989), playing an embittered former slave in the Union Army during the Civil War. Arguably, the most memorable scene in that film, when his character is being flogged and a single tear traces down his cheek, prompted one woman to write, “When they beat him in Glory, mind you, they didn’t tie him up — he just stood there and took that beating like a man — that’s when I became a fan.”

The thespian manages to evoke a visceral response in women whether he’s playing a mobster, a harried father or a corrupt cop. At 54, the married father of four and winner of two Oscars still has the goods to make hearts skip a beat — smooth, unlined face, taut, toned body and undeniable sex appeal.

That’s why his latest role in the action flick, The Taking of Pelham 123, might be a shock to the system for some. This time, Denzel is a rather frowzy, beefy middle-aged transit worker.

“He’s an ordinary, overweight guy who spills coffee on himself,” Denzel says. “He’s an ordinary guy put in an extraordinary situation by John Travolta’s character.”

Say what?

Ordinary? Overweight?

Nah! Not our no-one-on-the-corner-has-swagger-like-him Denzel. But it is his pitch-perfect ability to tap into the core of a character that imbues his performances with authenticity. Which is why Tom Hanks said working with Denzel was “like going to film school,” when the two starred in Philadelphia. It’s why Jodie Foster, who co-starred with him in Inside Man, calls him, “the best actor I’ve ever worked with.”

Denzel was quick to praise his most recent co-star, John Travolta, when a gaggle of reporters thrust microphones in his face at the Los Angeles premiere of the film. “John plays a bad man, but he’s a good man, which really [is] a testament to his acting ability,” he said.

Getting Down to Basics
“Denzel supported his son and attended his football games throughout his college career.”

“Denzel is married to a black woman who looks like me.”

“He has not been caught up in the negative Hollywood crap. He’s been married for awhile and is a positive role model for his kids, and keeps his home life pretty much private.”

“Denzel sent his son to a Historically Black College to earn his degree.”

The testament to the kind of man that Denzel is, is the fact that he is a dutiful father and devoted husband. He supports a number of organizations with his time and money, most notably the Boys & Girls Clubs of America. In 2006, he gave $1 million to Save Africa’s Children, an organization founded by Bishop Charles Blake.

Denzel has earned the respect of his colleagues and the adoration of fans, along with untold wealth and power. But the actor has a very matter-of-fact perspective of his career, which he shared in an interview with rolling out in 2007, “Acting for me is like making a living, but it’s not my life. My wife, my children … that’s life. That’s the miracle of what life’s all about.”

Now that’s damn sexy.