Denzel Washington and Wife Pauletta Celebrate 41 Years of Marriage: 'The Basic Love We Have for Each Other' (Exclusive)

Denzel Washington and Pauletta Washington continue to share a deep love after more than 40 years of marriage.

The premiere of the film at the Toronto International Film Festival 2024 Piano lesson on Tuesday, Sept. 10, the couple proudly supported their son Malcolm Washington’s feature directorial debut, while Pauletta, 73, also shared some insight into her and Denzel’s relationship with PEOPLE.

On the red carpet, Pauletta tells PEOPLE the key to her long marriage to the two-time Oscar winner, 69. “There’s no secret” to their successful 41-year marriage, she says. But there is a strong connection.

“We are working on it. It’s a job,” Pauletta tells PEOPLE. “It’s not like you sit there and go, ‘Oh, you know…’”

“There are many prayers for the strength to stay in forgiveness mode and both parts, mine and his,” she says. “But that’s the basic love we have for each other.”

(L-R) Denzel Washington and Pauletta Washington.

Monica Schipper/Getty

The couple met on the set of Denzel’s first film in 1977 Wilmabut it wasn’t until months later, at a mutual friend’s party, that the two spoke. Six years later, in June 1983, the couple married and now have four children – John David (40), Katia (37) and twins Malcolm and Olivia (33).

Denzel Washington is proud of the director’s son Malcolm Piano lesson Premiere: ‘Excited for our future’ (exclusive)

As the couple celebrate their son Malcolm’s feature film premiering at TIFF, they’re also celebrating their eldest son John David’s starring role and daughter Katie’s producing credit. Denzel also co-produced the film. Malcolm dedicated the production, an adaptation of August Wilson’s 1987 play, to his mother.

“It’s such an honor,” Pauletta told PEOPLE at the Toronto festival. – I broke down when I saw it.

Malcolm previously told PEOPLE at the Telluride Film Festival that Pauletta is “at the center” of the film. “This film is so personal to me, and the people I was supposed to make it with are the closest people in my life,” he explained.

(L-R) Malcolm Washington, Katia Washington, Pauletta Washington and Denzel Washington in 2019.

FREDERIC J. BROWN/AFP via Getty

At the TIFF premiere, Malcolm tells PEOPLE that he’s still “trying to figure out” the secret of his parents’ marriage.

“I don’t know, they love each other, but I don’t know what the secret is,” he says with a smile. “I’m trying to find out.”

Arriving with his family, Denzel proudly celebrated his son’s latest achievement. “I’m happy that people will get a chance to see what kind of filmmaker Malcolm is,” he told PEOPLE at the Sept. 10 premiere. “I am excited about our future together with August Wilson.”

Samuel L. Jackson and John David Washington leap from stage to screen in Gripping Piano lesson Trailer

Malcolm Washington.

Monica Schipper/Getty

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Piano lesson is in select theaters on November 8th, then on Netflix on November 22nd.

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Source: HIS Education