Denzel and Pauletta Washington are one of Hollywood's favorite couples.
They've been married for over 37 years, have four children, and for the most part, have not fallen prey to many traps or scandals in Hollywood.
RELATED: Denzel & Pauletta Washington: Their 37-Year-Old Love Story
Now, as Pauletta Washington is turning 71, five years older than her superstar husband, we reflect on the woman she was, the woman she is, and the women she inspires just by being herself.
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The two first met on the set of the 1977 TV movie Wilma, but it wasn’t until a year later that circumstance (and pure luck) brought them together again that they began laying the foundation for an impressive future together.
“The first movie I ever did — TV movie — was about Wilma Rudolph, and I played Wilma Rudolph’s boyfriend,” Denzel Washington recalled on Live with Kelly and Ryan in 2018. “Pauletta was one of the track stars,” he continued. “I met her then, but I didn’t meet her then. I saw her then,” he explained.
Shooting wrapped and they went their separate ways. It wasn’t until months later that Denzel would actually meet Pauletta, proving that people come in and out of your life for a reason.
And when they return, they can take on a completely different role.
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Recalling their fateful second encounter, Pauletta Washington told the Oprah Show in 1996, “A mutual friend of ours, who was also in the film, had given a party. And Denzel and his friends came at the very end of the party,” she remembered.
“We spoke again. We were reintroduced.” Then something truly spectacular happened. “The next night, I attended a play, and he was there” Pauletta continued.
Apparently, it took a lot of convincing for Denzel to get Pauletta to accept a marriage proposal. He told Access Hollywood that he had to ask her multiple times.
RELATED: Denzel Washington On 37 Years Of Marriage: "I Married Up"
"You heard it here first," Denzel said. "She turned me down, she said no. And since it was three times, that means she turned me down twice."
But as you know, the couple tied the knot nearly 40 years ago and even renewed their vows in South Africa years later with Archbishop Desmond Tutu as officiant.
The couple has welcomed four children together during their marriage. All four children are pursuing careers in the film industry.
Their oldest, John David Washington, starred in the Oscar-nominated Spike Lee film BlacKkKlansman and the much talked about 2020 film, Tenet.
Daughter, Katia Washington, has served as a producer and production assistant on several of her father's films, including Fences. Twins, Olivia and Malcolm, have studied filmmaking and acting.
Olivia wants to follow in her father's footsteps in front of the camera after studying at NYU.
One of their first dates
Denzel revealed that he had taken Pauletta out for a fancy dinner, and then decided to splurge on a cab ride home. In those days, the actor revealed, he was struggling, and the alternative was the Subway or a walk home.
But, as they drove and the cab's meter continued counting the growing fare, Denzel realized that he wouldn't have enough money to pay for it.
Even though the thought of her paying made Denzel cringe, Pauletta ended up having to pay for the cab, but it didn't seem to put her off the handsome actor, and she agreed to see him again.
So what's the secret to their marriage?
"I do what I’m told. I keep my mouth shut!" joked Denzel. But then the actor later got real about what had really held him and Pauletta together over the years and gave his wife a huge amount of the credit.
"What pops into my head: security, food, a beautiful home," he said. "The difference between a house and a home, it’s a big difference.
You can buy a house, but that doesn’t make it a home—and not to say a man can’t make a home a home, but my wife has made our house a home, and raised these beautiful kids, and protected them and sacrificed for them. She did the heavy lifting.”
She went on to acknowledge that Denzel had been far more in the public eye than she had, but it had made no difference to their connection with each other.
"When Denzel first started, I was right there, but there was no focus on me. But there's been no less presence in his life and in my life than now. As you climb, you grow deeper in the foundation, so it makes our foundation deeper."
