Kerry Washington may play a badass crisis management expert to the political elite in ABC’s Scandal, but she’s even more impressive in real life.
Born in 1977 in the Bronx, Washington discovered her passion for acting at an early age, joining a youth theater group and acting in plays, according to IMDb. From there she went on to graduate from George Washington University with a degree in theater; she also studied at the prestigious Michael Howard Studios in New York City.
In 2014, she was even named one of Time magazines “100 Most Influential People in the World,” and was nominated for an Emmy award for her role on Scandal. Today, she’s one the most successful and talented women in Hollywood.
Here are 13 head-turning photos of Washington.
13 striking photos of Kerry Washington
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Steve Granitz / Getty
Washington poses in the press room during the 2013 MTV Movie Awards at Sony Pictures Studios in Culver City, CA, on April 14, 2013.
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C Flanigan / Getty
Washington arrives at the 20th annual Screen Actors Guild Awards at The Shrine Auditorium in Los Angeles, CA, on Jan. 18, 2014.
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Jason Merritt / Getty
Washington attends the 26th annual GLAAD Media Awards at The Beverly Hilton Hotel in Beverly Hills, CA, on March 21, 2015.
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Pascal Le Segretain / Getty
Washington attends the 2016 Vanity Fair Oscar Party Hosted By Graydon Carter at the Wallis Annenberg Center for the Performing Arts in Beverly Hills, CA, on Feb. 28, 2016.
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Karwai Tang / Getty
Washington attends the 2016 Vanity Fair Oscar Party Hosted By Graydon Carter at the Wallis Annenberg Center for the Performing Arts in Beverly Hills, CA, on Feb. 28, 2016.
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Gregg DeGuire / Getty
Washington arrives at the 22nd annual Critics’ Choice Awards at Barker Hangar in Santa Monica, CA, on Dec. 11, 2016.
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Kevin Mazur / Getty
Washington attends the 23rd annual Screen Actors Guild Awards at The Shrine Auditorium in Los Angeles, CA, on Jan. 29, 2017.
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Taylor Hill / Getty
Washington attends the 2017 Vanity Fair Oscar Party Hosted By Graydon Carter at Wallis Annenberg Center for the Performing Arts in Beverly Hills, CA, on Feb. 26, 2017.
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Kelsey McNeal / Getty
Washington during an episode of Scandal.
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Raymond Hall / Getty
Washington at Good Morning America in New York City on Oct. 5, 2017.
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Sean Zanni / Getty
Washington attends the Fashion Group International’s 34th annual Night of Stars Gala at Cipriani Wall Street in New York City on Oct. 26, 2017.
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George Pimentel / Getty
Washington attends the 75th annual Golden Globe Awards at The Beverly Hilton Hotel in Beverly Hills, CA, on Jan. 7, 2018.
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D Dipasupil / Getty
Washington attends the SNL 40th anniversary Celebration at Rockefeller Plaza in New York City on Feb. 15, 2015.
Washington poses in the press room during the 2013 MTV Movie Awards at Sony Pictures Studios in Culver City, CA, on April 14, 2013.
Washington arrives at the 20th annual Screen Actors Guild Awards at The Shrine Auditorium in Los Angeles, CA, on Jan. 18, 2014.
Washington attends the 26th annual GLAAD Media Awards at The Beverly Hilton Hotel in Beverly Hills, CA, on March 21, 2015.
Washington attends the 2016 Vanity Fair Oscar Party Hosted By Graydon Carter at the Wallis Annenberg Center for the Performing Arts in Beverly Hills, CA, on Feb. 28, 2016.
Washington attends the 2016 Vanity Fair Oscar Party Hosted By Graydon Carter at the Wallis Annenberg Center for the Performing Arts in Beverly Hills, CA, on Feb. 28, 2016.
Washington arrives at the 22nd annual Critics’ Choice Awards at Barker Hangar in Santa Monica, CA, on Dec. 11, 2016.
Washington attends the 23rd annual Screen Actors Guild Awards at The Shrine Auditorium in Los Angeles, CA, on Jan. 29, 2017.
Washington attends the 2017 Vanity Fair Oscar Party Hosted By Graydon Carter at Wallis Annenberg Center for the Performing Arts in Beverly Hills, CA, on Feb. 26, 2017.
Washington during an episode of Scandal.
Washington at Good Morning America in New York City on Oct. 5, 2017.
Washington attends the Fashion Group International’s 34th annual Night of Stars Gala at Cipriani Wall Street in New York City on Oct. 26, 2017.
Washington attends the 75th annual Golden Globe Awards at The Beverly Hilton Hotel in Beverly Hills, CA, on Jan. 7, 2018.
Washington attends the SNL 40th anniversary Celebration at Rockefeller Plaza in New York City on Feb. 15, 2015.
