AS HE THRILLS FILM FANS IN 'GLADIATOR II' DENZEL WASHINGTON ON HIS BUSIEST TIME AT 69 AND HIS HOLLYWOOD FAMILY DYNASTY

The cinema-going world might be thrilled by Denzel Washington's powerful performance in Gladiator II, but it's a much smaller project that occupies the space closest to his heart.

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And that's Netflix horror drama The Piano Lesson, based on US-born playwright August Wilson's Pulitzer Prize-winning play.

Not only has Denzel co-produced the screen adaptation with his daughter Katia, but it is also his youngest son Malcolm's directorial debut feature.

The film stars his eldest son John David, and there are also roles for Denzel's actress wife Pauletta and youngest daughter Olivia, plus his old friend Samuel L. Jackson.

While Malcolm was studying film-making at college and training with director Spike Lee, audiences grew familiar with his brother John David in Tenet, BlackkKlansman and The Creator.

Despite his own producing skills, Denzel says: "The real producer isn't here today - which is their mom. She's the real producer.

"She said to me: 'Malcolm's got some ideas.

You should talk to him and put some things together,' and that's how it started," he recalls.

Married for almost 40 years, the couple met on the set of Denzel's first TV film Wilma, going on to have four children together: former football player John David, 40; daughter Katia, 37, and twins Olivia and Malcolm, 33.