Denzel Washington is "excited" about his wife going back to work.

The actor - who met spouse Pauletta Pearson on the set of 1977 TV movie 'Wilma' - is delighted the actress has decided to continue with her profession now their four children are getting older.

He said: "Pauletta is in a play off-Broadway from January. I am so excited for her. She is very talented and now has the time. The Little Ones have all grown up and are off at school and working, so now she has the opportunity to get back to work."

The actor - who has son John, 26, daughter Katia, 23, and 19-year-old twins Malcolm and Olivia with Pauletta - is proud of his children but insists he would never force them down a career path they were not interested in.

He added: "My youngest are 19 but they are still dependent. My wife and I try to raise them the way we were raised with core values like good education and sport, and make them well rounded.

"One of my sons, John, is a professional footballer, but I am not pushing them in any direction."