As Shakespeare wrote, "Life is but a walking shadow," Denzel Washington is a poor player whose voice remains unknown, at least in the eyes of BAFTA.
With more than 65 film credits, nine Oscar nominations (including two wins) and more than 270 honors over a 45-year career, Denzel Washington is widely considered one of the greatest actors of his generation. Yet despite its monumental legacy, Washington remains an undeniable blind spot for BAFTA.
This year is no exception. The British Academy of Film and Television Arts (BAFTA) nominations were announced on Wednesday, with Washington, 70, once again absent for his role as the villain in Ridley Scott's epic Gladiator II. Ignore. Washington plays Macrinus, a former slave who plots to take control of Rome, and his performance was hailed by critics as a chilling, layered turn worthy of award-winner recognition.
Although Washington made the original 10 BAFTA Best Supporting Actor shortlist, he failed to make the final list of six nominees, which included Kieran Culkin for "True Pain" and Guy Pearce for "The Beast" . The omission adds to a puzzling pattern of BAFTA overlooking one of the film industry's most respected actors.
During his illustrious career, Washington's record of not winning a BAFTA award is one of many blemishes on the awards body's 78-year history.
Reasons for this oversight vary, from an ill-timed UK release date to BAFTA's long-standing limited diversity in acting categories. Still, some snubs are harder to explain, especially given Washington's key role in the film that resonated globally.
Take, for example, his brilliant portrayal of the titular civil rights leader in Spike Lee's Malcolm X (1992), widely regarded as the most successful film of his career. One of the standout performances. Or his gritty, morally complex work in Antoine Fuqua's Training Day (2001), which earned him his second Academy Award for Best Actor. BAFTA ignored both performances.
Even in recent years, Washington's negligence has felt increasingly alarming. His stunning performance as Lord Macbeth in Joel Coen's The Tragedy of Macbeth (2021) earned him an Oscar nomination. Despite this, BAFTA excluded him entirely - a decision partly attributed to the jury system BAFTA implemented that year, which selected half of the acting nominees.
Washington's other Oscar-nominated performances include his breakthrough in "Freedom" (1987), his heartfelt performance in "Hurricane" (1999), and his role in "Flight" (2012). Deep portrayals of alcoholic pilots - all failed to attract the attention of the British Academy of Film and Television Arts (BAFTA). Even his performance in Fences (2016), which he directed and starred in, was not registered with the British Academy, except for Viola Davis, who won the supporting actress award.
The British Academy has long faced criticism for its lack of diversity, particularly in the acting and directing categories. In response, BAFTA launched a comprehensive diversity review in 2020, leading to significant changes to its voting process.
Under the latest rules, BAFTA's acting branch judges select just three performers from the 10 shortlisted in each performance category, while branch voters choose seven. This hybrid approach has sparked debate about the balance between artistic values and diversity goals, with some critics arguing the system still fails to deliver on its promise of inclusivity.
As far as Washington is concerned, the changes have had little impact. Despite a career marked by consistent excellence, groundbreaking achievements and cultural impact, the British Academy of Film and Television Arts (BAFTA) has marginalized him, raising questions about whether its voting body fully appreciates his contribution to film contribute.
For Washington, who is nominated for his tenth Oscar, Gladiator II's snub from the British Academy of Film and Television Arts (BAFTA) was to be expected in his awards season trajectory.
For BAFTA, the question remains: Will it fully recognize Washington's profound influence on the film industry? The outlook doesn't look good.