Morgan Freeman said he's 'envious' of Denzel Washington's career: 'He's doing what I wanted to do'

• Morgan Freeman reflected on his career in a rare interview with The Sunday Times.
• During the interview, the 85-year-old actor said he felt "envious" of Denzel Washington's career.

Morgan Freeman opened up about being "envious" of Denzel Washington's career during a rare interview with The Sunday Times.

The actor, 85, who recently starred opposite Florence Pugh in "A Good Person," told the publication's senior writer Jonathan Dean that he can't help but have feelings of envy toward Washington, 68.

Reflecting on his career and Washington's, Freeman said he is "so very envious of Denzel's career, because he's doing what I wanted to do."

Dean wrote that he'd recently spoken to Washington, who said he felt like he was in the "autumn of life," remaining ambitious with the projects he wants to take on and calling reputable directors such as Paul Thomas Anderson and Steve McQueen to ask for work.

At 17 years Freeman's junior, Washington's experience in the world of acting has been vastly different, however.

Freeman's career started during a time in the US when the Hays Code was in place. The policy restricted the kind of content major film studios could show, including banning interracial romance onscreen, according to NPR. It lasted for almost 40 years, from 1934 until 1968.

Since his early acting years, which consisted of theatre work and a role on the children's show "The Electric Company," were impacted by the code and its aftermath, it wasn't until Freeman was 52 that he started getting more ambitious roles.

After winning a Golden Globe and an Oscar's nomination for "Driving Miss Daisy" in 1989 when he was 52, Freeman went on to star in over 100 films, including "The Shawshank Redemption," "Million Dollar Baby," and "Bruce Almighty."

But even though Freeman expressed his envy of Washington, he acknowledged the generational progress for Black actors in Hollywood.

"When I was growing up there was no 'me' in the movies," Freeman said. "If there was a black man in a movie he was funny. Until Sidney Poitier came and gave young people like me the idea that, 'OK, yes, I can do that.'"

"And I spoke with Sidney way back. He said, 'I wanted to be like you,'" he added. "Generationally, though, I do think we're moving ahead in leaps and bounds.

With regards to Washington, his costar in the 1989 film "Glory," Freeman has always been supportive.

When Washington received the 47th AFI Life Achievement Award in 2019, Freeman attended the ceremony and issued high praise for how Washington is able connect with viewers while acting. Speaking to Access Hollywood on the red carpet, he said: "He's making contact with you."

"That's one of the things that makes him extraordinary," Freeman added.