Denzel Washington Appreciates Wife Pauletta For Doing The ‘Heavy Lifting’ In Their 40-Year Marriage

Oct 06, 2022 by apost team

Finding long-lasting love in Hollywood is often a challenge. While many of our favorite actors and actresses often go through multiple marriages and divorces, not everyone in showbiz follows this norm. In fact, those such as Denzel Washington have found ways to make their marriages successful despite Hollywood pressures. 

Denzel has had great success throughout his lifetime. He is an award-winning actor and has dabbled in the field of directing. His career has not only garnered him praise from peers, critics, and fans alike but has led him to his happy-ever-after with his wife, Pauletta Washington. A talented entertainer herself, Pauletta and Denzel make quite the celebrity couple.

Pauletta Washington was born on Sept. 28, 1950, in North Carolina. According to IMDB, she was born with the surname Pearson. Pauletta is a libra who turned 72 years old in 2022. She is five years older than her husband. Pauletta is very tall, standing at 6 ft and 1 inch. She attended the University of North Carolina School of the Arts, as well as the prestigious Juilliard School.

Pauletta has completely immersed herself in the acting world by not only working as an actress herself but by marrying an actor and being the sister of actress Rita Pearson.

She made her acting debut in "Wilma" in 1977, starring alongside now-husband Denzel. She went on to work on more TV movies and series throughout her career, including "The Parkers" and "The Watsons Go to Birmingham." She also landed roles on the silver screen starting in 1998 with "Beloved." Her more recent works showcase her talent in a more limited space, with the actress starring in multiple short features.

Read on to learn more about the key to success for Denzel and Pauletta's four-decade marriage.

According to The Oprah Magazine, the love birds Denzel and Pauletta met in 1977 as they both took part in the making of a television film called “Wilma.” Their acquaintance quickly turned into a strong friendship, something they both attribute to the longevity of their relationship. They were friends before they fell in love!

Denzel and Pauletta tied the knot on June 25, 1983, and since then, they have lived in marriage and honored the vows they made to each other. On a trip to South Africa in 1995, they had the chance to renew their vows, and the well-known Archbishop Desmond Tutu officiated the renewal. Denzel once commented in one interview a while back:

"I don't know if it's show business that has a monopoly on divorce, it's just that you hear about it." He proceeded with: "I just think that you have to work at it. Not give up on each other. It's a commitment. It's not all the honeymoon, it doesn't last forever, so you work at it. And hopefully, you're good friends first, that might help!" 

Marriage has not been perfect for the couple, as they, too, have had their dark days in their union. They and their four children, John David, Katia, and twins Olivia and Malcolm, have always managed to go through hard times as a team.

Denzel's marriage has survived due to several aspects, and in a previous interview, he joked that he has learned how to shut up and always do what his wife asks of him.

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He added in another interview:

"What pops into my head: security, food, a beautiful home. The difference between a house and a home, it's a big difference."

He also stated how much his wife has been pivotal in raising their children and making their house a home.

During an interview with Reader's Digest, Denzel was asked about his and Pauletta's parenting style, and he wasn't afraid to admit she is the family's primary support system. He said:

"If you have kids, you know there is no style! It’s a hybrid. It’s what my wife and I learned from our parents, and applying religious instruction, discipline, athletic activity and academic excellence whenever possible. My wife’s done a great job. She’s been the consistent one, just trying to give them a normal life." 

Having come from a broken family, Denzel did not have all the basics as a child. He never got the kind of love that his wife got from her family.

They say the best way to a man's heart is through his stomach, and for the many years they have been married, Denzel has enjoyed Pauletta's chicken curry.

The couple has also publicly based their marriage on a deep-rooted faith. Pauletta, in an interview with The Root, admitted that their marriage is all spiritual and based on God. She has continuously sought spiritual counseling whenever situations got out of hand. She also added a remark about their friends, "My inner circle of people are like-minded, so we strengthen each other."

In the same interview, Pauletta elaborated on the role faith plays in her marriage. "It's all spiritual, it's all based on God. I'm limited as a human being, and when you look at certain situations, it's very bleak. Or at least it appears that way, but then I seek spiritual counseling."

Funnily enough, their relationship only really started because of a random moment of chance. Although they had met on the set of "Wilma" and talked and met as friends previously, they did not have a close relationship or connection. That all changed with one fateful encounter. 

Many years later, Denzel opened up on "Live with Kelly and Ryan" in 2018, about that moment. First, the actor revealed that while he'd met Pauletta on the set of "Wilma," they didn't really "meet" until later. As he so succinctly put it, "she set me up" when they first worked together. He went on:

"About a year later, there was a party I was invited to, she invited me to — or somebody invited me and she was there. At that party I had talked about going to see a play. I went to see the play and at intermission the lights came up and she was sitting (there). She said she just happened to go see the play, but …” the actor said with a big grin on his face.

He then jokingly said teasing his wife more would get him in trouble, as he and the hosts had a giggle about their adorable love story.

While Denzel and Pauletta both offer their own strengths in their marriage, Denzel said that most of the credit should go to his wife. “She did the heavy lifting,” he said, explaining how Pauletta has worked extremely hard to make their long-lasting marriage so successful. It’s not surprising to learn that they have been married for a remarkable 40 years. Others could definitely borrow some pointers from these love birds!

What are your thoughts on Denzel and Pauletta Washington’s marriage? Do you have any tips on how to make a relationship work? Let us know, and be sure to pass this along to your loved ones.