“She wanted to be so tough, but she really wasn’t,” Washington said of Houston
Denzel Washington recently took a walk down memory lane, reminiscing about the time he spent working with the extraordinary Whitney Houston on the beloved film, The Preacher’s Wife.
Washington, now 69, and Houston, the multi-talented singer and actress, took on the roles of Dudley and Julia Biggs in the 1996 film. At a recent event at the American Black Film Festival, Denzel looked back affectionately on his experience making the movie, nearly three decades since its release.
“I felt like I always wanted to protect her,” the acclaimed actor shared, speaking about the late singer known for her powerful rendition of “I Will Always Love You.”
Chaz Ebert, the event’s host and widow of famed film critic Roger Ebert, noted the vulnerability she saw in Houston’s performance. Washington responded, “So you really got that?” and the audience chuckled when Ebert confirmed, to which he replied, “Well, of course.”
“She wanted to be so tough, but she really wasn’t,” Washington continued, expressing the protective instinct he felt towards his co-star.
The Preacher’s Wife, a remake of the 1947 classic The Bishop’s Wife, featured a stellar cast including Courtney B. Vance, Jenifer Lewis, Gregory Hines, and young talent Justin Pierre Edmund. Additionally, notable appearances from Lionel Richie, Loretta Devine, and Houston’s mother, Cissy Houston, added to the movie’s charm.
Whitney Houston’s untimely death in February 2012, due to accidental drowning compounded by heart disease and cocaine use, shocked fans worldwide. She was just 48. Despite her struggles, she formed meaningful connections with her cast members during her life.
Vance, who played Houston’s on-screen husband Reverend Henry Biggs, reflected on how working with the star influenced him. “I loved her so much,” he reminisced. “It was a turning point in my life and Whitney was a huge part of that.”
While on set, Vance respected the boundaries of their professional relationship, focusing on their mutual admiration. “We just were on sets together and respecting each other,” Vance recalled. “But I didn’t go into the depth of what was happening in her life.”
The emotional toll of Houston’s passing was so great that Vance couldn’t bring himself to attend her funeral. “It might’ve hurt my spirit. And I have in my mind our time together and it was beautiful,” he reflected.
At the same festival, Washington gave audiences a sneak peek at his upcoming Netflix project, The Piano Lesson, which he produced. The film stars his son, John David Washington, alongside Samuel L. Jackson. While the movie doesn’t yet have a release date, it’s something that fans can look forward to.
