In this illuminating insight into Denzel Washington's multifaceted image and remarkable career, Cynthia Baron traces his star persona and impact on mainstream society - from his time as a skilled actor in theatre and television in the 1980s, to his leading man roles in landmark films of the 1990s, to his place in Hollywood's elite in the 2000s.

Cynthia Baron is Professor of Theatre and Film at Bowling Green State University, USA. She is co-author of Reframing Screen Performance and Appetites and Anxieties, co-editor of More Than a Method and editor of The Projector Journal.

Acknowledgments.- Introduction.- 1. Stardom and the Politics of Representation.- 2. After Blaxploitation, Before New Jack Cinema.- 3. Academy Award Winning Actor.- 4. One of America's Favourite Movie Stars.- 5. Blues Detectives.- Conclusion.- Notes.- References.- Filmography.- Index?.