Kerry Washington

Emmy- and Golden Globe-nominated Kerry Washington is a versatile and fearless actress who continues to shine on both the big screen and the small screen. A native of the Bronx, Washington has received high acclaim for her work on stage, on television and on film.

Washington debuted in 2000 in the highly acclaimed independent film Our Song and later appeared in the film Save the Last Dance, for which she received a Teen Choice Award for Best Breakout Performance. Her performance in the 2002 film Lift earned her an Independent Spirit Award nomination for Best Actress. In the years following her debut, Kerry starred in several films, including Bad Company, The United States of Leland, The Human Stain, Sin, Against the Ropes and She Hate Me.

In 2004 Washington starred alongside Jamie Foxx in the Academy Award-nominated hit Ray. Her performance earned her the NAACP Image Award for Outstanding Actress in a Motion Picture. In the years to follow, Washington was seen in Sexual Life, Mr. and Mrs. Smith, Fantastic Four, Littleman, The Dead Girl, I Think I Love My Wife, Fantastic Four: Rise of the Silver Surfer, Miracle at St. Anna, Life Is Hot in Cracktown and Mother and Child. Washington received NAACP Image Award nominations for her performances in the 2006 film The Last King of Scotland and the 2010 film Night Catches Us. Her performance in the 2008 film Lakeview Terrace earned her a Best Actress nomination at the BET Awards.

In 2010 Washington starred in Tyler Perry’s For Colored Girls alongside Phylicia Rashad, Whoopi Goldberg, Janet Jackson and Thandie Newton. That year Washington also made her Broadway debut in David Mamet’s Race, starring James Spader and David Alan Grier. In 2012 Washington was seen in The Details with Tobey Maguire, as well as in A Thousand Words alongside Eddie Murphy.

Washington was recently seen in Quentin Tarantino’s Django Unchained alongside Jamie Foxx, Leonardo DiCaprio, Christoph Waltz and Samuel Jackson. The film was nominated for a Golden Globe and Academy Award for Best Picture. Washington was last seen in the comedy Peeples with Craig Robinson. Her performance earned her an NAACP Image Award nomination for Best Actress.

In television Washington currently stars in the hit Peabody Award-winning ABC drama Scandal. For this role Washington broke barriers by becoming the first African-American woman to headline a network TV drama since the short-lived 1974 series Get Christie Love. In 2013 Washington earned her first primetime Emmy Award nomination, Screen Actors Guild nomination and Golden Globe nomination for her portrayal of Olivia Pope on Scandal. She was also awarded an NAACP Image Award for Best Actress, and the show won for Best Drama. The NAACP also honored Washington with the President’s Award, recognizing special achievement in furthering the cause of civil rights and public service. Washington and Scandal both earned NAACP Image Awards in 2014.

An activist, Washington was appointed by President Barack Obama to the President’s Committee of the Arts and Humanities in 2009. She also is an active member of the V-Counsel, an esteemed group of advisors to V-Day, the global movement to end violence against women and girls. Washington was named to Time's "100 Most Influential" list in 2014.

Washington currently serves as both a brand ambassador and creative consultant for Neutrogena. She is also brand ambassador for Movado.