Biography
Though she had her start in the indie film world, actress Kerry Washington scored her first big breakthrough role as a street-smart mom in the surprise mainstream hit, "Save the Last Dance" (2001). Seemingly emerging out of the blue, Washington actually paid her dues on the stage and in a number of small films before her breakout performance, which paved the way for another acclaimed turned in "The United States of Leland" (2003). But it was …
Kerry Washington SlideShow
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Career Milestones
2012 | Played title character's wife Broomhilda opposite Jamie Foxx in "Django Unchained," a Western drama set in Mississippi; film written and directed by Quentin Tarantino |
2012 | Starred as the leader of a crisis management team on ABC's "Scandal"; character was inspired by real-life crisis consultant and former White House Press secretary Judy Smith |
2012 | Appeared opposite Eddie Murphy in the comedy-drama "A Thousand Words" |
2010 | Reteamed with Anthony Mackie in drama "Night Catches Us" |
2010 | Joined an ensemble cast for Tyler Perry's "For Colored Girls" |
2010 | Co-starred in Rodrigo García's independent feature "Mother and Child" |
2009 | Made her Broadway debut in David Mamet's "Race" |
2008 | Again directed by Spike Lee in "Miracle at St. Anna" |
2008 | Played an interracial couple (with Patrick Wilson) being harassed by a racist cop in Neil LaBute's "Lakeview Terrace" |
2007 | Reprised role for the superhero sequel "Fantastic Four: Rise of the Silver Surfer" |
2006 | Played a wife of 1970s Ugandan dictator Idi Amin in the historical drama "The Last King of Scotland" |
2005 | Had a supporting role in the Marvel Comics feature "Fantastic Four" |
2005 | Appeared in a supporting role opposite Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt in Doug Liman's "Mr. & Mrs. Smith" |
2005 | Cast in the recurring role of Chelina Hall, a new associate on the ABC series "Boston Legal" |
2004 | Portrayed Della Charles opposite Jamie Foxx as the title character in Taylor Hackford's biopic "Ray" |
2004 | Cast opposite Anthony Mackie in the Spike Lee comedy "She Hate Me" |
2003 | Joined an ensemble cast including Ryan Gosling, Don Cheadle and Kevin Spacey in "The United States of Leland" |
2003 | Again played a supporting role opposite Anthony Hopkins in the "Human Stain" |
2002 | Cast in support of Anthony Hopkins and Chris Rock in "Bad Company" |
2001 | Played an accomplished shoplifter in the indie feature "Lift" |
2001 | Landed major supporting role in romantic drama "Save the Last Dance" |
2000 | Appeared in the film "Our Song" |
1996 | Cast in the PBS educational series "Standard Deviants" |
1994 | Made her screen debut in the ABC telefilm "Magical Make-Over" |
Awards
2005 | Screen Actors Guild Award for Outstanding Performance by a Cast in a Motion Picture in Ray |
2002 | Urbanworld Film Festival for Future of Film Award |
2002 | Independent Spirit Award for Best Female Lead in Lift |