Elsewhere in the Esquire story, Denzel opened up about his past struggles with alcohol and how it negatively impacted his life. And while recalling his disappointment over the 2000 Oscar loss, Denzel said he likely turned to alcohol to manage his emotions.

Denzel Washington reflected on the 2000 awards season — and noted that some people in Hollywood heard rumors about Kevin Spacey years before he was publicly accused of sexual misconduct — in a new essay for 'Esquire.