Denzel and Pauletta Washington’s enduring love story continues flourishing after more than 40 years of marriage. On Tuesday (Sept. 10), the couple attended the 2024 Toronto International Film Festival premiere of The Piano Lesson, celebrating their son Malcolm Washington’s feature directorial debut. 

During the event, Pauletta opened up to PEOPLE about the strength of her bond with the two-time Oscar-winning actor and what has kept their relationship thriving through all these decades. "There is no secret” to their successful marriage of 41 years, she shares. But there is a strong connection. “We work at it. It's work. It's not that you sit there and you go like, ‘Oh, you know...’ ” 

The 73-year-old continues, “There are a lot of prayers for strength for staying in a forgiveness mode and both parts, mine and his. But it's the basic love that we have for each other.”

The pair first crossed paths on the set of Denzel's debut film, Wilma, in 1977. However, it wasn’t until months later, at a mutual friend’s party, that they connected. Six years after that initial spark, they got married in June 1983. Today, they are proud parents of four children – John David, 40, Katia, 37, and 33-year-old twins Olivia and Malcolm.