Denzel Washington On Getting Waterboarded During 'Safe House: 'It's Strange; You Can't Breathe In'

Denzel Washington

First Posted: 02/ 8/2012 3:29 pm Updated: 02/ 8/2012 10:13 pm

In "Training Day," star Denzel Washington's character, Alonzo, tells Ethan Hawke's Jake, "You gotta decide whether you're a wolf or a sheep." As if Denzel's status in the former category was ever questionable, fans can now definitively say the Oscar-winning actor is a wolf after his recent admission.

In a conversation with Vulture, Washington said he was waterboarded during the filming of his upcoming action-drama, "Safe House."

"I wanted to see what it would be like. It's strange. You can't breathe in, because the water comes in, and it's filling up your mouth," said Washington. "And that was just one time for a short time. Imagine having that done for 20, 30 seconds? You will give up the answers! You may not necessarily tell the truth, but you will tell [your captors] whatever they want to hear."

Although Washington was quick to volunteer, it didn't leave his director, Daniel Espinosa, feeling anymore at ease.

"I was terrified, but I let him go and I had to watch him do it. He went all out for this movie. I would definitely not like to be waterboarded. It was intense. Disturbing. I had sympathetic pain. I always get sympathetic pain. I wish I didn't. I felt like I was drowning."

Co-star Ryan Reynolds agreed, telling press recently that Washington's waterboarding was terrifying to watch.

"That was the most disturbing thing I think I’d ever seen, watching him be waterboarded," Reynolds said.

Waterboarding wasn't the only first Washington experienced on the set of "Safe House." During a fight scene with Reynolds, the Oscar-winning star received a black eye.

"I tried to make him feel bad about it," Washington said about the aftermath of one of Reynolds's errant punches. "I was like, 'What the!' I've never had a black eye in my life, but I can't say that anymore."

You can watch the infamous waterboarding scene -- as well as the part where Denzel gets a shiner -- when "Safe House" hits theaters this Friday.

[via Vulture]

FOLLOW MOVIEFONE

'FONE FINDS
In "Training Day," star Denzel Washington's character, Alonzo, tells Ethan Hawke's Jake, "You gotta decide whether you're a wolf or a sheep." As if Denzel's status in the former category was ever ques...
In "Training Day," star Denzel Washington's character, Alonzo, tells Ethan Hawke's Jake, "You gotta decide whether you're a wolf or a sheep." As if Denzel's status in the former category was ever ques...
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01:26 PM on 02/09/2012
Sounds like a good movie.....can't wait to see it.
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mds308
America. Love it or Leave it to Beaver.
01:25 PM on 02/09/2012
I know it's KNEW
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mds308
America. Love it or Leave it to Beaver.
01:24 PM on 02/09/2012
I new a skier that couldn't handle snowboarding.
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mbrat42
12:47 PM on 02/09/2012
What is torture for one may not be torture for another. Waterboard me all you want, but lock me in a tiny room with a couple of mice or snakes and I'll cry like a baby.
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12:33 PM on 02/09/2012
'' I've never had a black eye in my life''.....????..wow..I knew DW was a good actor..but I did not know he was white.
12:05 PM on 02/09/2012
In another words the movie sucks, but the waterboarding is real nice..
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11:44 AM on 02/09/2012
For those who are all gun ho about punishing people that are terrorists, I hear you, but waterboarding is not their punishment, it is a means to getting information from them. The point is that waterboarding does not get the information wanted, because it is so uncomfortable that one will say anything to make it stop...in other words it is torture. Whether you believe in torture or not, it does not work and the very practice being condoned for others can hardly be criticized by us when used by enemy combatants on our own troops that are captured. One someone is tried and convicted, they are punished, but this is not for that purpose, it is for the purpose of getting good info and it does NOT work. John McCain, former POW says it does not work to get the information you want; others who have had it done all say the same thing...the information you get will be whatever you want to hear to stop the torture. Not the info we need. It is a waste of time and can actually further complicate the situation by getting false info. There are much better and more effective means of interogating someone.
12:22 PM on 02/09/2012
Such as what, tickling? or "Tell us pretty please?" The enemy merely removes body parts, beats you over and over, etc.or beheads you. I'd rather swim..
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Canefighter
I post my thoughts on subjects, not opinions.
11:32 AM on 02/09/2012
If they where holding my wife or kids as hostages I would use any method of saving my family. Water boarding would be just the first mild method, next pliers and finger/toe nails etc.
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12:35 PM on 02/09/2012
...are you serious...you and everyone else would skip the waterboarding and start right off with the pliers, if your family was at stake...don't fool yourself...
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pathfindr369
Spelunking the Abyss
02:21 PM on 02/09/2012
forget the pliers, they take too long . . . I'll bring my sledge hammer
11:08 AM on 02/09/2012
This sounds like a good movie to miss.
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bill hontos
11:04 AM on 02/09/2012
Sorry people but I must point out that it has been proven that beheading is not an effective method of getting information from captives.
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backinblack42
There are none so blind as those who refuse to see
11:15 AM on 02/09/2012
It is for the next one in line.
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12:39 PM on 02/09/2012
...''next one in line''..you were in the Army..weren't you..the Army always disciplined like that...and it works very well...
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12:38 PM on 02/09/2012
both bill and backinblack42 made very appropriately funny comments..good ones..both of you..cracked me up...
10:46 AM on 02/09/2012
Thousands of U.S. military personnel have been water-boarded as part of their SERE training (look it up). Denzel meant to say that HE would tell captors anything they wanted to hear. Not everyone is as soft as him, especially our military.
12:07 PM on 02/09/2012
You are correct. It doesn't take a complicated contraption either. Yeah, you can tell them what you think they want to hear...after it is compared with the Intelligence already known and cross checked with the statements of others (Interrogators do not act independently and they are not stupid), and the conclusion is reached you are lying; when you are "invited" for another go you will probably tell them what you know.
If you want to know what out of control Interrogators and guard look like, read Bravo 20 by Andy McNabb
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12:45 PM on 02/09/2012
...yeah..it does not take a ''complicate­d contraptio­n''...but if you are not wanting to waste water because you need it to drink for survival...pliers and knives are not very complicated, either...plus many other methods will get info ''much'' faster.

You can be sure that many prisoners in the hands of many foreign countires that are presently being tortured..are wishing they were in the hands of Americans waterboading them instead of the gruesome methods used widely by other countries.
10:43 AM on 02/09/2012
An example of how stupid actors really are. If he wants to show how tough he is, he should have tried going through Marine boot camp. I do not think he would be able to tap out.
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Jerry Troutman
My micro bio is still empty
11:41 AM on 02/09/2012
What does boot camp have to do with this? Of course not everyone can go through boot camp,but everybody can be waterboarded.And SERE training? I don't think any kind of training can get you ready to be strapped to a table,immobilized,legs,arms,head restrained,having a cloth placed over your mouth and nose,then water poured over until you fill like you are going to drown for minutes,hours on end.I wish all these people who say its like hazing should allow it to be done on them for at least 1 hour.I'm sure one talking head would get a rush out of it.
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gonro2
Musician)
10:10 AM on 02/09/2012
There is a comfort zone in the knowledge that you can "tap out" at any time. What if you can't tap out?
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joebikerchef
Mom says I'm special
10:00 AM on 02/09/2012
Ride a motorcycle with no front fender in the rain with a bandana covering your face, and you waterboard yourself
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SpeakupNation
Pray for the dead and fight like hell for the livi
09:44 AM on 02/09/2012
Most who favor torture have never been close to that scenario themselves, and they are not thinking of the consequences to our own people. Ask John McCain.