or reminitcKatia Washington, Denzel Washington’s eldest daughter, attended an iconic event honoring Black excellence in her industry, accompanied by her wife. Some netizens likened her to her father, while others noted her wife’s towering height.
On December 9, 2024, Katia Washington attended the Critics Choice Association’s 7th Annual Celebration of Black Cinema and Television at the Fairmont Century Plaza in Los Angeles.
Katia Washington and Colleen Wilson at the 7th Annual Celebration of Black Cinema & Television on December 9, 2024, in Los Angeles, California | Source: Getty Images
At first glance, what stood out during her appearance in the event celebrating the year’s accomplishments and performances in the Black entertainment community, was her wife, Colleen Wilson, who was hard to miss.
In a video and an image shared on Instagram, Colleen, described in the post’s caption as a former ballerina and standing at 6-foot-4, towered over Katia, who is only 5-foot-2.
Katia Washington and Colleen Wilson at the 7th Annual Celebration of Black Cinema & Television on December 9, 2024, in Los Angeles, California | Source: Getty Images
Reacting to the post, a user claimed they“Didn’t know he [Denzel] had a daughter 😳.” Several users also took notice of Katia’s resemblance to her father with comments like She look[s] more like her dad than the brother” and “She has his entire face.”
Another observed, “She has his smile,” similar to a TikTok user who noted, “She has her dad’s smile.” Others agreed, “She definitely looks like her dad. All of the way down to her smile. [sic]”
“She looks just like him,” one person remarked, while another simply wrote, “Wow.” Moving on to the couple’s height difference, someone joked, “Is she really short or is her wife just really tall?”
Colleen Wilson and Katia Washington at the 7th Annual Celebration of Black Cinema & Television on December 9, 2024, in Los Angeles, California | Source: Getty Images
Facebook users also shared their thoughts, with one complimenting Katia’s look as “absolutely queen.” Another individual remarked, “Big heels? Lovely photo of a lovely couple. That’s all I see. Oh and how much she looks like her Dad.”
Katia Washington, 37, has followed her father’s footsteps into the film industry, working not only as a producer but also as an additional crew member and in the editorial department of movies like “The Equalizer” and “Malcolm & Marie.”
Along with her siblings, John David, 40, and twins Olivia and Malcolm, 33, she has also collaborated with their father in the film, “Fences,” where she worked as a producer, and most recently, “The Piano Lesson,” where John David starred as Boy Willie, Malcolm served as director and writer, and Katia contributed also as a producer.
Denzel, Katia, and Pauletta Washington at the Los Angeles premiere of “The Piano Lesson” on November 19, 2024, in California | Source: Getty Images
In a November 2024 interview, Denzel shared that the family had “a moment” together promoting the movie at the 2024 Toronto International Film Festival, where his wife, Pauletta, who also appeared in the film as Mama Ola, joined them in the audience.
Denzel, Katia, Pauletta, Malcolm, and John David Washington with Latanya Richardson Jackson at the Los Angeles premiere of “The Piano Lesson” on November 19, 2024 | Source: Getty Images
“Sitting on that stage after the screening for the question-and-answer session with three of my children—Lord,” Denzel recalled, emphasizing that the moment wasn’t about him but about his children’s achievements.
After the screening and Q&A, the family attended the after-party. Denzel and Pauletta stayed in the corner, watching their children mingle and “just soaring.” He shared, “I was there as best I could be for my children. I’d fly in from whatever movie I was doing and be with them.”
Denzel also shared his experience working with his children on the film, particularly the challenge of balancing his roles as a producer and a father.
“I’m supposed to be one of the producers, and I’m also their dad, but about two weeks in, I went home! Nothing really for me to do! You know when you say something to the group and they give you a polite answer, like, ‘Yeah, thanks, we’re a little busy here. Thanks for the—okay, so where were we?'” he revealed.
Still speaking about his children but now turning to his role in Katia’s life before and after her birth, the actor reminisced about Pauletta’s pregnancy with the child in 1987 when he was filming “For Queen and Country” in London. He scheduled five days of leave before and after her due date and flew home to ensure he was present for her birth. The star described this as his version of “commuting.”
Despite their busy lives, the family found ways to stay connected, whether it was Denzel traveling for work or the children focusing on school and maintaining good grades.
The actor continued, “There’s no easy way. We taught them the old-fashioned, hard-work way. Pauletta read a chapter from the Bible to them every day at breakfast and they would have discussions about it.”
He credited his wife for laying the foundation at home while he was earning a living. What made him content was knowing that all his children were in their right minds and healthy, adding, “Pauletta did a brilliant job with them. She taught them the right way.”
Pauletta and Denzel Washington at the premiere of “The Piano Lesson” on November 19, 2024, in Los Angeles, California | Source: Getty Images
Denzel humbly described himself as having come “along for the ride” and teaching by example, whether good or bad.
