Denzel Washington Finally Answers If He Was Drinking During the Filming of “Flight”

Denzel Washington’s relationship with alcohol is, well, complicated. If you know him for his iconic roles, especially in Flight, where he plays a drunk pilot, you might think alcohol is a constant in his life. But guess what?

Washington isn’t really the man you think he is when it comes to booze. Sure, he’s had his moments, but the way he talks about drinking is a bit surprising. In fact, his alcohol journey is pretty different from the characters he plays on screen. It wasn’t a sudden downfall.

Instead, it was a slow buildup, beginning with fine wines, then escalating to something a little heavier, before he finally decided to quit altogether. Washington’s story is one of personal growth, self-control, and finding the right time to make a change. And it wasn’t his role in Flight that made him rethink things.

How Did Denzel Washington Begin Drinking?

Denzel Washington’s drinking journey didn’t start with a wild night out or a crazy party. Instead, it was a slow introduction into the world of fine wine. He was at a point in life where his family installed a wine cellar in your house.

And once he had access to that wine cellar, it was game on. The star was surrounded by the finest wines money could buy, and at first, it was just a hobby. He wasn’t chugging cheap stuff—the actor was savoring rare bottles like a professional.

Washington admitted that wine is “tricky” because it doesn’t hit you immediately. You sip a little, think everything’s fine, and then—bam! You’ve had too much without realizing it. For him, wine became something he could really enjoy.

The Hollywood star was drinking bottles from years like ’61 and ’82—high-end stuff that most of us can only dream of. And he didn’t stop there. As his taste for wine grew, he found himself calling up Gil Turner’s Fine Wines & Spirits on Sunset Boulevard. As Washington said in an interview with Esquire: 

And then later in those years I’d call Gil Turner’s Fine Wines & Spirits on Sunset Boulevard and say, ‘Send me two bottles, the best of this or that.’

Why two bottles? Simple: Washington knew if he ordered more, he’d drink more. So he kept it to two, pacing himself over the course of the day. But still, the drinking kept going. 

Slowly, wine became a regular part of his life, and Washington had a strong connection to it. It was something he enjoyed, but eventually, he realized that it might have been too much. And that’s where his story takes a turn.

Did Denzel Washington Drink While Filming Flight?

Now, here’s the part that will surprise you: Denzel Washington did not drink while filming Flight. You might think that playing an alcoholic airline pilot would make him go a little overboard, but Washington is a pro.

He said he never drank during filming or while preparing for his roles. He was able to separate his personal life from his work life, which is honestly pretty impressive. So, even though his character was a mess who had a serious drinking problem, Washington didn’t mirror that behavior on set.

But as soon as filming wrapped up, the Oscar winner would go right back to his wine-filled routine. So, while he wasn’t drinking while on the clock, the second he finished work, it was back to the bottles.

Washington would drink for months at a time, then go back to filming another project. His drinking wasn’t at an all-time high when he was making Flight, but he was still in the habit of drinking pretty regularly after a long day on set.

He was experienced enough with alcohol to play the role authentically, but filming Flight didn’t spark his decision to quit drinking. That moment came later in his life.

When Did Denzel Washington Stop Drinking?

Denzel Washington made the choice to quit drinking at the age of 60. That’s right, after years of enjoying his fine wine and regular glasses of alcohol, he decided it was time to stop.

Washington had been drinking regularly for over 15 years, mostly in the form of wine, but he wasn’t getting addicted. The Mount Vernon was more or less drinking daily, and while he wasn’t out of control, he realized that it was time to take a break and focus on his health. Washington admitted (via the same source):

I’ve done a lot of damage to the body. We’ll see. I’ve been clean. Be 10 years this December. I stopped at 60 and I haven’t had a thimble’s worth since. Things are opening up for me now — like being 70. It’s real. And it’s okay. This is the last chapter — if I get another 30, what do I want to do? My mother made it to 97.

Washington began eating healthier and working with a personal trainer. His trainer even started making his meals, helping him lose weight and build strength. The 70-year-old is feeling better than ever. He’s been working on his physical health and staying fit, and it shows. The actor is down to about 190 pounds and aiming for 185.

He’s no longer in the same shape he was in when he went to the Academy Awards for Macbeth, and the star is happy about it. So, while Washington never got fully “strung out” on alcohol, he knew it was time to make a change. And by quitting at 60, he’s been able to live a much healthier and more balanced life.

Flight is available to watch on Amazon Prime Video!