Biography
Kerry Washington was born on January 31, 1977, in New York City, New York. Raised by her two working parents in the Bronx, Kerry’s upbringing was an active one; when not attending the exclusive all-girls Spence School (which boasts Gwyneth Paltrow and Emmy Rossum among its alumni), Kerry was participating in a host of extracurricular activities (including gymnastics, ballet and acting). It eventually became clear, however, that Kerry’s true talent lay in the world of performance, and the aspiring actress soon found herself attending classes and hitting the audition circuit with gusto.
In 1994, at the age of 17, Kerry Washington made her professional debut with an appearance on an ABC After School Special entitled Magical Make-Over. She followed that up with a four-year stint at George Washington University where she eventually graduated with a degree in theater. During those years, Kerry honed her chops by appearing in several school plays and local productions, and it became clear to her friends and family that she possessed an undeniable gift for acting.
kerry washington in save the last dance
Kerry Washington’s hard work and perseverance paid off in 2000, when she made her cinematic debut (in a lead role, no less) in a film called Our Song. Though the movie premiered at the Sundance Film Festival to positive acclaim, it essentially went straight to video in North America, and wasn’t quite the breakthrough that Kerry was hoping for. Kerry Washington’s luck changed the following year, however, as she took on a starring role opposite Julia Stiles and Sean Patrick Thomas in the hit teen drama Save the Last Dance. The actress went on to win the Choice Breakout Performance trophy at the Teen Choice Awards, and there was little doubt that Kerry had established herself as an up-and-coming performer worth watching.
kerry washington in fantastic four
Kerry Washington spent the next several years appearing on various television shows (including Law & Order and NYPD Blue), while also taking on small but pivotal roles in movies like 2002’s Bad Company (alongside Anthony Hopkins and Chris Rock), 2003’s The United States of Leland (starring Ryan Gosling and Don Cheadle), and the 2004 Meg Ryan boxing movie, Against the Ropes. Though she received critical acclaim for her work in 2004’s Ray (in which she played the wife of Jamie Foxx’s Ray Charles), Kerry found herself unable to land some of the more interesting high-profile roles floating around town.
This started to change in 2005 after Kerry successfully won parts in Mr. & Mrs. Smith and in Fantastic Four. Kerry Washington soon found herself working opposite A-listers like Angelina Jolie and Jessica Alba.
kerry washington in last king of scotland
Not one to sit on her laurels, Kerry Washington started using her burgeoning fame to increase the awareness surrounding several of her most passionate causes -- including the V-Counsel (a group dedicated to ending violence against women) and the Creative Coalition (a political advocacy organization for the entertainment industry). Following a memorable five-episode stint on Boston Legal in 2005, Kerry took on her most challenging role to date by agreeing to star as Idi Amin’s wife in the drama The Last King of Scotland. Acting opposite Oscar winner Forest Whitaker, Kerry Wasington found herself being challenged and pushed further than she ever had been before. The hard work clearly paid off, as Kerry received oodles of kudos and acclaim for her searing performance.
Personal life
Washington was engaged to actor David Moscow from October 2004 to March 2007.
As a sort of souvenir/memento, she usually tries to keep something from every character that she plays whether it is an item of wardrobe or a piece of furniture from the house that the character lived in.
kerry washington in rise of the silver surfer
Kerry followed up her Last King of Scotland gig by starring opposite Chris Rock in 2007’s I Think I Love My Wife, and reprised her Alicia Masters role in Fantastic Four: Rise of the Silver Surfer.
kerry washington is named no. 89 in 2008 top 99
Kerry Washington was also cast in the 2008 films Life Is Hot in Cracktown (opposite Brandon Routh and Lara Flynn Boyle) and Neil LaBute’s Lakeview Terrace (alongside Samuel L. Jackson and Ashton Kutcher).
Kerry Washington has kept so busy in 2008 that it's no wonder she ranked No. 89 on AskMen.com's Top 99 list of Most Desirable Women.
Awards/nominations
BET Awards
2007- Best Actress The Last King of Scotland: Nominated
Black Reel Awards
2007- Best Supporting Actress The Last King of Scotland: Nominated
2005- Best Actress, Drama Ray: Nominated
2003- Best Actress, Network/Cable Lift : Nominated
2002- Best Independent Actor Lift: Nominated
2002- Best Supporting Actress Theatrical, Save the Last Dance: Nominated
Image Awards
2007- Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Motion Picture The Last King of Scotland: Nominated
2006- Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Drama Series Boston Legal: Nominated
2005- Outstanding Actress in a Motion Picture Ray: Winner
Independent Spirit Awards
2002- Best Female Lead Lift: Nominated
Satellite Award
2005- Best Actress in a Comedy/Musical Ray: Nominated
Screen Actors Guild Awards
2005- Outstanding Cast in a Motion Picture Ray: Nominated
