“I struggled in the first few previews” - Jake Gyllenhaal reveals Denzel Washington helped calm him after “total panic” during early Othello play

Actor Jake Gyllenhaal recently expressed that he struggled with Broadway acting despite doing multiple plays early in his career.

In a recent article by Variety, the actor said that despite having done Broadway plays before, acting in Othello was a whole new experience for him. Gyllenhaal co-starred in the play alongside Denzel Washington. The actor further told the publication that Washington helped him calm down his nervousness when he was panicking.

Gyllenhaal told Variety about his struggles during the play and said that sometimes it took him 10 takes to get a shot (on film) right.

“I struggled in the first few previews,” he said. “To fall back on techniques makes me feel insecure. I’m used to doing 10 takes. If you go home and your voice is shot, you’re like, ‘At least they got it.’ So I do vocal warm-ups before the show.”

He further elaborated on spending almost a year working on his skills and shared that he drew inspiration from fellow actors like Ian McKellen.

“I was beginner beyond beginner. I’m not like this usually. I had to spark my brain with other people’s brilliance. I watched everything I possibly could."

Gyllenhaal also shared that he was about to refuse the offer of acting in the play when Washington and the director of the production, Kenny, approached him.

He further described an incident where Washington took artistic freedom to change his speech in the middle of the play. This habit of Washington’s helped him calm down during performances.

"One of the millions of things that I’ve learned from Denzel is freedom onstage. When things change and move, or he doesn’t remember, he’s flowing with it. I set boundaries for myself, and he’s just pushing them. It has made me calmer onstage.”

Gyllenhaal took the time to appreciate his co-actors and learn from Washington about how to stay composed on stage. Othello opened in theatres in March 2025. It is Gyllenhaal’s first Shakespearean play performed professionally.

About Jake Gyllenhaal

Jake Gyllenhaal is an accomplished American actor and a skilled theatre artist. He was born on December 19, 1980. His real name is Jacob Benjamin Gyllenhaal. Gyllenhaal’s mother, Naomi Foner, is a screenwriter and producer, and his father, Stephen Gyllenhaal, is a director. He also has an elder sister named Maggie Gyllenhaal.

Gyllenhaal debuted at the age of 11 with the film City Slickers. He starred in October Sky in 1999 and Donnie Darko in 2001. He made his theatre debut with the revival of This Is Our Youth in London. His performance in Brokeback Mountain, released in 2005, earned him critical acclaim. Gyllenhaal won a BAFTA Award for Best Actor in a Supporting Role and received nominations for the SAG Awards and Academy Awards.

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His notable movies include Zodiac (2007), Brothers (2009), Love & Other Drugs and Prince of Persia: The Sands of Time(2010), End of Watch (2012), Southpaw, and Demolition (2015).

He also received nominations for his impressive performance in Nightcrawler, released in 2014.

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