Kerry Washington is a versatile and fearless actress known for starring as Olivia Pope, a crisis management expert, in the ABC drama series "Scandal" which ran from 2012 to 2018. For her role in "Scandal," she received nominations for two Primetime Emmy Awards for Outstanding Lead Actress and a Golden Globe Award for Best Actress. Her portrayal of Anita Hill in the HBO television film Confirmation (2016), earned her another Primetime Emmy Award nomination.

Some of Washington's notable film roles were in 2004's Ray, 2006's The Last King of Scotland, the Fantastic Four films, and Quentin Tarantino's Django Unchained (2012).

In 2018, Forbes named her the eighth highest-paid television actress.

Washington reprised her role in the film adaptation of the Broadway play American Son in 2019, which she also executive produced, for Netflix.

In 2020, Washington served as an executive producer on The Fight, a documentary film revolving around legal battles lawyers for the ACLU face during the Trump administration. She also starred and served as an executive producer in the Hulu adaption of Celeste Ng's Little Fires Everywhere alongside Reese Witherspoon.

In addition to her acting career, Washington is an activist. She is a member of V-Day, a global movement that brings awareness to violence against women and girls.

Washington is also a supporter of LGBTQ rights. In August 2013, she was named an honorary chairperson of the GLSEN Respect Awards; and she received the GLAAD Vanguard Award on March 21, 2015. In June 2016, the Human Rights Campaign released a video in tribute to the victims of the 2016 Orlando gay nightclub shooting; in the video, Washington and others told the stories of the people killed there.

In September 2012, Washington spoke at the Democratic National Convention in favor of re-electing Barack Obama, with her speech focusing on addressing voter apathy. In March 2016, Washington appeared in a commercial endorsing Hillary Clinton for President.

Originally from The Bronx, New York, Washington is a graduate of The Spence School. In 1998, she graduated Magna Cum Laude and Phi Beta Kappa from The George Washington University. On May 19, 2013, she was the commencement speaker for her alma mater. Before giving her commencement address, she was presented with an honorary Doctorate of Fine Arts.

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