Denzel Washington says he struggles with speech after biting his tongue ‘half-off’ in odd incident

Denzel Washington is opening up about a recent injury that has affected his speech and, in turn, his approach to acting.

Speaking on The Interview podcast from The New York Times, the Oscar-winning actor revealed he nearly bit off his tongue a few months ago, a painful mishap that has forced him to slow down.

Washington, 70, shared, “I bit my tongue almost half-off. It’s affecting my speech. It forces me to slow down. I have to use it.”

The injury has added an extra challenge to his upcoming role in Othello on Broadway, where he stars alongside Jake Gyllenhaal.

He explained, “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.”

Despite the difficulties, Washington said the experience has deepened his faith. Reflecting on the incident, he admitted he wasn’t sure why it happened but saw a spiritual significance.

He said, “That’s why you pray every day. I’m like, ‘OK, Lord, I’m here, I think this is what you wanted me to do.’ Now I’m not sure why [I bit my tongue], but one can say coincidence and serendipity and all those things.”

Washington did not share details on how the injury occurred or whether he received medical treatment.

When asked whether he believes acting helps people, Washington reiterated that his focus is on his faith rather than public perception.

“At this point, everything I’m doing is through the lens of what God thinks, not what they think. You go down that hole, you’ll never come out of that.”

Discussing Othello, Washington noted that the play’s themes of jealousy, envy, and betrayal are particularly relevant in today’s world.

Director Kenny Leon, he revealed, is setting the production in a futuristic context.

“He’s putting it in what he calls the near future.”

“So all of those things - jealousy, envy - it takes on a whole new thing with the information age.”

Washington also spoke about working with Gyllenhaal, calling him a “complicated” actor - but in the best way.

He added, “He’s nuts. I love him. But he’s already got a handle on it.”

As for his own acting process, Washington prefers not to memorize lines too early, explaining that he wants to react naturally to his scene partners rather than pre-planning his performance.

He went on, “I’m not worried about that because I don’t like to learn the lines too soon. I was telling a young actor who asked, ‘Why don’t you like to learn them too soon?’”

“I said: ‘Because then I’m the voice I’m listening to delivering the cues to myself. I want to hear it from you, and that’s going to affect how I say what I say.’ For me, that works.”

Washington’s Othello is shaping up to be one of Broadway’s most eagerly awaited shows, featuring two standout performers under Leon’s direction.