Denzel Washington was ordered to star in his latest movie by his mom.
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The Oscar-winning actor had signed up to direct The Great Debaters but co-producer Oprah Winfrey and movie boss Harvey Weinstein could not persuade him to accept the part of the debate team’s coach.
However, Denzel’s mother Lennis had more joy convincing her son to play Coach Melvin B. Tolson.
Weinstein revealed to the New York Daily News: “Denzel didn’t want to do it. He said, ‘I’m directing the movie, and I don’t want to do two things.’ At the same time Denzel was begging me for another USD4 or USD5 million budget for the movie.
“Finally, Denzel said, ‘I want your mom’s number. I want my mother and your mother to talk. Let’s see if they can work it out.’
“Fortunately, my mom, Miriam, and Lennis hit it off, and the movie got made. I gave him the money he wanted, and in return he acted in the film. That’s what the mothers imposed on us.”
The 1930s period drama, which has already been nominated for a host of awards, tells the story of an underdog debating team who brought fame to Texas’ historically black Wiley College.
