Kerry Washington on How ‘Scandal’s’ Olivia Pope Changed Her Life and Playing a Real-Life Hero in ‘The Six Triple Eight’ (2024)

Although Kerry Washington finds the fact that she’s receiving a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame “surreal,” her father, Earl Washington, thinks she should’ve gotten a star a lot sooner.

“Anytime he would hear that somebody was getting one, he was like, ‘Why don’t you have one?’” Washington tells Variety, laughing as she recounts their conversations. “I was like, ‘I don’t know, Dad. I don’t make those decisions.’ So I feel like he’s manifested this moment. I’m excited that I get to share it with him.”

Washington’s father is right. She could’ve been honored anytime in her nearly 25-year career — with a resume highlighted by standout turns in films like “Save the Last Dance,” “The Last King of Scotland,” “She Hate Me” and “Ray,” all before she landed the role of D.C. fixer Olivia Pope on ABC’s “Scandal.” But it was that part — and the distinction of becoming the first Black woman to lead a network TV drama in nearly 40 years — that made Washington a household name.

“Scandal” debuted in 2012 and quickly became a pop culture phenomenon. But in the dozen years since, Washington has parlayed her capital into creating new pathways for artists via her Simpson Street production company, which is behind shows like “Little Fires Everywhere,” “UnPrisoned” and “Reasonable Doubt” (recently renewed for a third season), plus executive producing the Academy Award-contending documentary “Daughters.” All things considered, Washington’s Walk of Fame honor, set for Dec. 2, seems to be arriving right on time.

“It’s fitting,” Washington says of being selected as part of the class of 2024. “Because all these things that Simpson Street has been able to do, stemmed from those ‘Scandal’ years. That’s when my life as a producer began.”

She looks back on “Scandal” — which ran for seven seasons and earned her two Primetime Emmy nominations — fondly. “When people come up to me, they often talk about how Olivia Pope changed their life, and I get it — because she changed my life too,” Washington says.

The TV role gave Washington more access and ability to create work as an actor: During the show’s run, she shot “Django Unchained” and starred in and executive produced HBO’s “Confirmation,” portraying Anita Hill. Her personal life flourished, too. “I got married [to Nnamdi Asomugha], had children and bought a home. So much changed for me in those years,” Washington adds. “I’m really, really grateful to Olivia Pope for how she impacted culture, but also how she impacted me.”

Playing Olivia also taught Washington how to step into the spotlight. “She reminded our culture that everybody deserves to be the lead character in the story of their lives, regardless of what they look like, or who they love, or what Zip code they were born into, or what religion they are,” she says. “On a personal level, it took me being No. 1 on the call sheet to be willing to see myself as No. 1 in my own life.”
That notion — that everyone deserves to be the hero of their own story — has become the modus operandi for Washington’s Simpson Street productions, too.

“Ironically, the thing that brings me the most joy now is being the supporting character in the story of [“Scandal” researcher-turned-“Reasonable Doubt” creator] Raamla Mohamed’s career and all of the different artists and artisans that we employ and create opportunity for,” Washington says. “As a producer and as a director, I get to help build a platform that provides space for other people to walk toward their dreams. It allows room for other people to shine, and grow, and make history, and have an impact.”

TV has always been part of Washington’s story. In fact, her mother, Valerie, went into labor with her on the night the 1977 miniseries “Roots” aired its finale, which holds the record as the third highest-rated episode of TV of all time. “Historic, groundbreaking television has been a part of my origin story,” Washington jokes.

But the Bronx native never imagined a career on the small screen; she dreamed of acting on Broadway. “I never really saw myself as being the kind of actor who was a household name or on the cover of magazines, so it’s all a blessing,” she says. “It all feels a little bit like a miracle, because I know what the odds are to be able to have a successful career doing what you love to do in this industry.”

Washington’s Broadway dream came true, too. In 2018, she starred in “American Son,” a taut drama that examines the nuances of racial politics and takes place as concern about police brutality grew louder. She describes the production as the “role of a lifetime,” but it’s what happened next that epitomizes her impact on the industry: She brought the play to Netflix to adapt into a TV movie, which later was nominated for a Primetime Emmy.

“Bringing that project to streaming made it even more impactful and significant,” she says. “I’m really grateful for the way that television has allowed me to explode my dreams.”

Since “American Son,” Washington has primarily developed content for streamers like Hulu and Netflix. She next executive produces and stars as real-life hero Charity Adams in Netflix’s “The Six Triple Eight,” about the only Women’s Army Corps unit of color to be stationed overseas during World War II. Adams commanded the 855 women of the 6888th Central Postal Directory Battalion, who contributed to the war effort by sorting through a three-year backlog of mail (17 million pieces of it), bringing messages of hope to the soldiers on the front lines and their families back home.

It’s a role that makes fine use of Washington’s grit as Adams battles against misogynoir from the white Army leadership while she and her troops take on this Herculean task. (The 6888th was given six months to complete its mission, which was accomplished in 90 days. Maj. Adams was promoted to lieutenant colonel.)

“That was the gift of the role: That extraordinary duality that so many of us from marginalized communities know and understand. Of being underestimated and disrespected and still having that pull toward excellence and the willingness to display how capable you are,” Washington says. “It was such an honor to embody her and help people learn about her. Her extraordinary grace is such an example to all of us.”

Washington learned important lessons about leadership while playing the no-nonsense Adams. “In the beginning of the film, she felt like the responsibility was on her shoulders to be their leader, their caretaker, to make this work,” Washington says. “And through the course of the film, you see how it only works when she opens up to the community, to the sisterhood around her.”

That’s the overarching message, says Washington. “Yes, each of us deserves to be the lead character in the story of our lives, but none of us has to do our hero’s journey alone. There is such extraordinary strength in community — and in sisterhood in particular. Joining forces with and leaning into each other’s strengths to solve problems together.”

In the film, which begins streaming Dec. 20, Washington is surrounded by an ensemble of up-and-coming Black actors including Ebony Obsidian, Milauna Jackson, Kylie Jefferson, Shanice Shantay, Sarah Jeffery and Pepi Sonuga. There’s a particularly moving scene where Maj. Adams’ troops burst into a spontaneous round of applause after she stands up for them against a racist general. Washington gets emotional thinking about filming that day. “We understood a percentage of what they had been through,” she says. “And that’s what you see in that moment, us cheering on the real women of the 6888 and each other for walking this journey of honoring them.”

But it’s hard not to imagine that her younger co-stars were also applauding Washington for the trail she’s blazed for them in Hollywood. When the trailer debuted, a friend who studied acting with Washington sent her a text.

“I remember coming out of school and seeing another one of these big World War II movies that was giving a bunch of young actors the opportunity to shine. We didn’t have that for women,” the friend wrote. “I’m so moved watching all these young women who are now in community with you and with each other and with this business.”

Washington feels lucky for it too. “When I watch the film, what I see is all of these beautiful, intense supporting performances — not just from our extraordinary ensemble, but from all the background actors in that room. During that time, we really became a unit.”

Up next, Washington joins a star-studded ensemble in “Wake Up Dead Man,” the latest installment of Rian Johnson and Daniel Craig’s “Knives Out” franchise. Then she plays opposite Omar Sy in the action movie “Shadow Force.” After that, Simpson Street has about 10 projects — including a diverse slate of TV, film, documentaries and podcasts — in various stages of development, plus its Impact and Ventures divisions.

“I’m excited about what I’ve been able to do and I’m open to what lies ahead,” Washington says of the future. “It’s just a matter of seeing what unfolds next.”

While we’ve been discussing her career so far, Washington has come to a realization about what the Walk of Fame honor represents.

“There is something kind of magical and full circle about the idea that my production company is named after the street in the Bronx that my mother grew up on and that that journey has taken us all the way across the country to stake our claim on a whole other street of dreams,” she says. “Simpson Street was where the seeds of my grandparents’ dreams were planted. Now, I get to have a star that proves their dreams were worth dreaming and that they’ve taken flight.”