Biography
Who is Kerry Washington?
Early life and education
Kerry Washington was born in The Bronx, New York City, on January 31, 1977. Her mother worked as a professor and educational consultant, while her father was a real estate broker. She attended the Spence School in Manhattan during her youth and performed with the TADA! Youth Theater teen group.
After completing high school, Kerry Washington enrolled at George Washington University. She graduated Phi Beta Kappa with a double major in anthropology and sociology. She also trained at Michael Howard Studios in New York City to further develop her acting skills.
Acting career and breakthrough
Kerry Washington made her feature film debut in the 2000 drama Our Song. She subsequently appeared in various movies during the early 2000s, including Save the Last Dance and Bad Company. Her performance in the latter helped her qualify for Screen Actors Guild health insurance for the first time.
She took on diverse film roles in projects such as Ray, Mr. And Mrs. Smith, and The Last King of Scotland. In 2004, she played the female lead in Spike Lee's film She Hate Me, earning strong reviews for her acting work.
Success in television
Kerry Washington reached a major career milestone when she was cast as Olivia Pope in the ABC political drama series Scandal. Created by Shonda Rhimes, the show aired from 2012 to 2018 and became a big commercial and critical success.
For her work on Scandal, she received multiple Primetime Emmy Award nominations for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama Series. She also earned nominations for Golden Globe Awards and won an NAACP Image Award for her performance.
Stage and other projects
On stage, Kerry Washington made her Broadway debut in the original production of David Mamet's play Race. She later starred in the Broadway play American Son and reprised her role in a Netflix television adaptation.
She also portrayed Anita Hill in the HBO political film Confirmation and appeared in the Hulu miniseries Little Fires Everywhere. In 2024, she played Major Charity Adams in the war film The Six Triple Eight.
Birthday and age
Kerry Washington was born on January 31, 1977, which makes Kerry 49 years old today. That birthday falls under the Aquarius sign. Kerry shares the date with 29 other famous people.
Explore more
