DENZEL WASHINGTON

Secrets of a happy marriage.

Onscreen in The Equalizer 2, Denzel Washington plays a loner widower. But offscreen, the seasoned actor, 63, just celebrated his 35th wedding anniversary with Pauletta, the mother of their four children, in June. Congratulations! How do you two keep your marriage strong? I do what I’m told, keep my mouth shut! No, it’s so many things: security, food, a beautiful home. You can buy a house, but that doesn’t make it a home. And not to say a man can’t make a home a home, but my wife has made our house a home, and raised these beautiful kids [John David, who turns 34 on July 28, Katia, 31, and twins

Olivia and Malcolm, 27] and sacrificed for them. She did the heavy lifting.

You mentioned food—does she make a certain dish that you love?

She has a few. I’ve been eating her curry chicken dish since I’ve known her. I used to make it, too—but not as good as hers.

Did you enjoy learning all the fight choreography for The Equalizer 2?

It’s a part of my working out. I box, so I like throwing punches and all that. It’s a little easier because I know how to do it, and I know what I can’t do—one has to recognise one’s limitations.

Your son John David (see box) is getting great buzz for his role in the upcoming movie Blackkklansman. Are you proud?

I love my boy, and I’m happy he’s his own man and that he’s really good at what he does. He’s been fighting to make his own mark—he didn’t want any help from me. The only way I helped him get on Ballers was introducing him to football as a kid. I’m proud of all my children.

Did you care that he gave up a pro football career for acting?

He’s had I don’t know how many concussions, a broken collarbone, torn up knee and Achilles tendon, so no, I’m glad it’s over.

Lasting love: Denzel and Pauletta (at a Lakers game in 2017) wed on June 25, 1983. “I saw him on stage and was blown away,” John David (centre, with dad Denzel, left, in 2008) said to The Hollywood Reporter, “I was like, ‘I want to do that.’”