Denzel Washington recalled working alongside Whitney Houston on “The Preacher’s Wife” and feeling the need to protect her.
“She wanted to be so tough, but she really wasn’t,” Washington said at his African Black Film Festival retrospective, June 15, according to People. The 69-year-old reflected fondly on his time with Houston, but admitted he felt he wanted to do more to look out for the star.
“I felt like I always wanted to protect her,” he said. Host Chaz Ebert replied by saying, “there was a vulnerability that you saw,” to which Washington replied, “So you really got that?” He went on to say, “I always felt like I wanted to protect her. You know?”
American singer and actress Whitney Houston (1963 – 2012) stars with Denzel Washington in the film ‘The Preacher’s Wife’, 1996. (Photo by Fotos International/Getty Images)
Ebert admitted to understanding the need to look out for Houston, and recognized the vulnerable aspect of her real persona as well.
Washington starred as Dudley in “The Preacher’s Wife,” and Houston played the role of Julia Biggs in the 1996 hit film. Now, nearly 30 years later, the memory of time shared with the late singer still resonates with Washington. He looked back at what it was like to get to know Houston on a more personal level while filming. The movie also starred Courtney B. Vance, Jenifer Lewis, Gregory Hines, and Justin Pierre Edmund. Lionel Richie, Loretta Devine and Houston’s very own mother, Cissy Houston, also played roles in the movie, according to People.
LOS ANGELES, CA – NOVEMBER 22: Singer Whitney Houston accepts the Winner of International – Favorite Artist Award onstage at the 2009 American Music Awards at Nokia Theatre L.A. Live on November 22, 2009 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Kevork Djansezian/Getty Images)
Filming offered Houston the opportunity to form lasting friendships with the cast members, before she died February 2012, at the age of 48.
Washington’s desire to look out for his friend and co-star was echoed by Vance, who quickly weighed in on the conversation by saying, “I loved her so much.”
“For me to be playing her husband, I was in a state of euphoric shock,” he said.
Vance explained he and Houston had “mutual respect” for one another’s privacy, and said he didn’t delve into discussions about what was happening in the famous singer’s life, behind closed doors.
“We just were on sets together and respecting each other,” Vance said, before he noted, “but I didn’t go into the depth of what was happening in her life.”
Vance admitted he opted not to attend Houston’s funeral, as the loss was too much for him to take in.(RELATED: Mike Tyson And Bobby Brown Help One Another Through The Deep Pain Of Losing A Child)
“It might’ve hurt my spirit. And I have in my mind our time together and it was beautiful,” Vance said.
Houston died of accidental drowning. The coroner noted heart disease and cocaine use were contributing factors to her death.
