Star File

Kerry Washington

Kerry Washington is an Emmy and NAACP Award-winning producer, SAG and Golden Globe Award-nominated actor, New York Times best-selling author, as well as a director, producer, and activist. Washington received widespread recognition for portraying Olivia Pope on ABC’s drama Scandal. She rose to prominence as Olivia Pope on the hit ABC drama “Scandal,” breaking ground as the first Black woman since 1974 to lead a network TV drama. Across its seven seasons, Washington earned two Emmy nominations, a Golden Globe nomination, a SAG nomination, and two NAACP Image Awards, all for her role in the Peabody Award-winning series. Her expansive filmography includes Wake Up Dead Man: A Knives Out Mystery, Shadow Force, Mr. and Mrs. Smith, Django Unchained, Ray, The Last King of Scotland, Save the Last Dance, Our Song, and many others. In 2016, Washington launched her production company Simpson Street, whose projects include Netflix’s American Son, the Emmy award-winning ABC special, Live in Front of a Studio Audience, The Fight, and Hulu’s Little Fires Everywhere, Reasonable Doubt, UnPrisoned, and her YouTube series, Street You Grew Up On. Broadway acting credits include American Son and Race. As producer, she was proud to be a part of Gypsy (Drama Desk for Outstanding Revival) and Purlie Victorious: A Non-Confederate Romp Through the Cotton Patch, both of which were also Tony Award nominees. Washington most recently was seen starring in the AppleTV+ series Apple TV series Imperfect Women, which she also serves as executive producer. Up next, Washington will be seen in Ben Affleck’s Animals for Netflix. A lifelong activist, Washington served on The President’s Committee on the Arts and the Humanities under the Obama and Biden administrations. Washington was honored as one of TIME Magazine’s 2022 Women of The Year for her efforts.