By 2007, Glen Powell had enough acting credits under his belt to pique the interest of actor-producer-director Denzel Washington. When Powell auditioned for a small part in the 2007 film, “The Great Debaters,” which Washington was directing, the “Equalizer” star asked Powell to come back and try out for a much bigger role. The caveat was that Powell had to drop his Texas accent (which used to be much stronger) and impress some of the movie’s producers, who weren’t so convinced he was right for the role. Powell ultimately managed to win them over by embodying his character and wearing a sharp tuxedo to the table read.
The next day, 17-year-old Powell skipped school to join the cast at a debate camp to help study their characters before filming. It was a bold move at the time, but working with Washington had a major impact on Powell’s career. While speaking to Men’s Health, Powell recounted a great piece of guidance his co-star gave him that he has tried to live by ever since.
“This race, Hollywood, it’s a marathon, not a sprint,” Powell relayed from the Oscar-winner’s advice. “You’re running your own race. Don’t look in the other lanes. It doesn’t matter how fast somebody else is going, where they’re going, or if they look better doing it. It doesn’t matter.” Powell also credited Washington, along with the late legendary talent agent, Ed Limato, with encouraging him to move to L.A., which marked the start of a fast-paced career in Hollywood.
