Tom Hanks has heaped praise on his Philadelphia co-star Denzel Washington, revealing that watching him work up close taught him more than almost any other experience in his career. Hanks, who won his first Oscar for the 1993 legal drama, said he had no dialogue during the three weeks he spent filming courtroom scenes alongside Washington, giving him the chance to simply observe and learn from a master at close range. The comments underline the mutual respect between two of Hollywood's most decorated actors and highlight how even seasoned stars continue to draw inspiration from their peers.

Speaking to The New York Times, Hanks described sitting beside Washington during the trial scenes as "a thriller of an acting class," praising his co-star for following "no rules" while pursuing authenticity in the moment. He went further by placing Washington alongside Marlon Brando, Jack Nicholson and Laurence Olivier as one of the all-time greats, before adding a lighter aside that Washington, like him, used to take office supplies from film sets. The remarks add to the long list of tributes paid to Washington by fellow actors over the course of his career.