Kerry Washington Bio
Kerry Marisa Washington (born January 31, 1977) is an American actress who has received numerous accolades, including a Primetime Emmy Award and nominations for Golden Globe and Screen Actors Guild Awards. She rose to fame for her role as Olivia Pope in the ABC series ‘Scandal’, making her the first African-American woman to headline a network drama since 1974. Washington has also appeared in various films and was named one of Time’s 100 most influential people in 2014, as well as being recognized by Forbes among the highest-paid television actresses.
Early Life and Background
Kerry Washington was born in the Bronx, New York City, and was raised as the daughter of Valerie, a professor and educational consultant, and Earl Washington, a real estate broker. Washington’s family is of African-American origin, having moved from South Carolina to Brooklyn. Her mother’s family is from Manhattan, and Washington has mentioned that her mother has a mixed-race background, being partly English, Scottish, Native American, and descended from enslaved Africans in the Caribbean. Washington was conceived via a sperm donor, a fact she learned in 2018. She performed with the TADA! Youth Theater teen group and attended the Spence School in Manhattan from her pre-teen years until graduating from high school in 1994. At the age of 13, she was taken to watch Nelson Mandela speak at Yankee Stadium upon his release from prison. She attended George Washington University, graduating Phi Beta Kappa in 1998 with a double major in anthropology and sociology.
Path to Hollywood
Kerry Washington got her Screen Actors Guild (SAG) card as a requirement for a commercial that she starred in. She made her screen debut in the ABC telefilm ‘Magical Make-Over’ in 1994. Washington appeared in the cast of the 1996 PBS sketch comedy-style educational series ‘Standard Deviants’ and had roles in the short film ‘3D’ and the feature film ‘Our Song’ in 2000. She went on to appear in several movies, including ‘Save the Last Dance’ (2001) and ‘The Human Stain’ (2003). In 2002, she played Chris Rock’s love interest in the spy thriller ‘Bad Company’, which represented a turning point in her career, as it was the first time she made enough money annually to qualify for health insurance under SAG.
Kerry Washington Career
Early Career (1994–2009)
Washington made her feature film debut in the drama ‘Our Song’ (2000). She played Alicia Masters in the live-action ‘Fantastic Four’ films of 2005 and 2007, and has taken roles in diverse films such as ‘Ray’ (2004), ‘Mr. & Mrs. Smith’ (2005), ‘The Last King of Scotland’ (2006), ‘I Think I Love My Wife’ (2007), ‘Mother and Child’ (2009), and ‘For Colored Girls’ (2010). In 2004, she played the female lead in Spike Lee’s ‘She Hate Me’, receiving strong reviews for her performance. Washington also appeared in the recurring role of Chelina Hall on the ABC television series ‘Boston Legal’ and in several episodes of the A&E cable-TV series ‘100 Centre Street’.
Breakthrough (2010–2018)
In 2010, Washington made her Broadway debut in the original production of David Mamet’s play ‘Race’. She starred in Quentin Tarantino’s film ‘Django Unchained’ (2012), which received widespread critical acclaim. From April 2012 to April 2018, Washington starred in the ABC drama series ‘Scandal’, created by Shonda Rhimes, as Olivia Pope, a crisis manager who runs her own firm in Washington, D.C. The show was a commercial and critical success, and Washington’s performance earned her positive reviews. She won the award for Outstanding Actress in a Drama Series at the 44th NAACP Image Awards and was nominated for several other prestigious awards for her role.
Notable Works and Milestones
Kerry Washington’s signature work includes her role in ‘Scandal’, which made her a household name. She received numerous accolades, including a Primetime Emmy Award and multiple NAACP Image Awards. Washington’s costumes as Olivia Pope attracted attention, leading to her character being named one of the Top Ten Best-Dressed TV Characters by Vanity Fair.
Kerry Washington Award Nominations
Throughout her career, Kerry Washington has received several nominations, including two Golden Globe Awards and four Screen Actors Guild Awards, showcasing her talent and impact in the entertainment industry.
Kerry Washington Awards Won
Kerry Washington has won a Primetime Emmy Award, five NAACP Image Awards, and a Teen Choice Award, highlighting her achievements as an actress.
Kerry Washington Family
Kerry Washington married former NFL player Nnamdi Asomugha on June 24, 2013, in Hailey, Idaho. They have a daughter and a son, and Washington is also a stepmother to Asomugha’s daughter from a previous relationship.
Personal Life
Washington has been open about her experiences, including a childhood incident of inappropriate touching and her struggles with body image and mental health during her college years. She was engaged to actor David Moscow from October 2004 to March 2007. Washington has also been involved in various activism efforts, supporting voter registration drives and advocating for LGBT rights.
