Kerry Washington

Biography

Kerry Marisa Washington, born on January 31, 1977, is a prominent American actress celebrated for her dynamic performances across television, film, and stage. Throughout her career, she has garnered numerous accolades, including a Primetime Emmy Award, and has been nominated for two Golden Globe Awards and a Tony Award. In 2014, she was recognized in Time's prestigious 100 list of most influential people, and Forbes ranked her as the eighth highest-paid television actress in 2018.

Washington rose to fame with her compelling portrayal of Olivia Pope, a crisis management expert, in the ABC hit series Scandal, which aired from 2012 to 2018. Her performance earned her two Primetime Emmy nominations for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama Series, along with a Golden Globe nomination for Best Actress in a Television Series Drama. She also received Emmy nods for her performances as Anita Hill in the HBO film Confirmation (2016) and as a troubled mother in Hulu's Little Fires Everywhere (2020).

Her film career began with the drama Our Song (2000), and she has since appeared in a variety of films, including Ray (2004), Mr. & Mrs. Smith (2005), The Last King of Scotland (2006), and Django Unchained (2012). In 2024, she will star as Major Charity Adams in the war film The Six Triple Eight.

On stage, Washington made a notable Broadway debut in David Mamet's Race (2009) and later starred in American Son, reprising her role for a Netflix adaptation in 2019.