January 31 …

Kerry Washington is an Emmy-winning actor, producer, author, and activist whose work across film, television, and theater has broadened representation and shaped conversations about race, gender, and civic engagement in American culture.

Born January 31, 1977 in the Bronx and raised in Queens and Manhattan, Washington attended the Spence School and obtained a B.A. in performance studies from George Washington University. Her early training included ballet and school theater, paving the way for her professional acting career, which began in the late 1990s.

Growing up in a mixed-race household — with her mother as a professor and educational consultant — shaped her interest in identity and storytelling. In her memoir, Thicker Than Water, Washington revealed that she learned in adulthood that she was conceived via sperm donation. This revelation has significantly impacted her recent reflections and artistic choices.

Her screen career boasts acclaimed supporting roles in films such as Ray, The Last King of Scotland, and Django Unchained, but she rose to prominence as Olivia Pope in ABC’s Scandal. This groundbreaking role made her the first Black woman to headline a network drama since the 1970s and transformed the landscape of network television storytelling and stardom.

In 2024, Washington portrayed Major Charity Adams in the war drama, The Six Triple Eight. The film tells the story of the 6888th Central Postal Directory Battalion, an all-African-American female battalion that served under the command of Adams during World War II.

Washington made her Broadway debut in David Mamet’s Race and later starred in and produced American Son for both stage and screen. She founded the production company Simpson Street, through which she has produced television, film, theater, and documentary projects — including “Live in Front of a Studio Audience” — promoting opportunities for diverse creators.

Washington’s accolades include a Primetime Emmy Award for producing “Live in Front of a Studio Audience,” multiple Emmy acting nominations, NAACP Image Awards, the NAACP President’s Award, a GLAAD Media Vanguard Award, and inclusion in Time’s 100 Most Influential People (2014). She was recognized as one of Time’s Women of the Year (2022) and has more recent honors like the Elevate Prize Catalyst Award in 2026.

Additionally, Washington earned Tony nominations for her work as a producer. Her commitment to activism and civic engagement has led to her serving on national arts committees, including the President’s Committee on the Arts and Humanities during the Obama administration. She has been involved in supporting arts education, voting initiatives, and efforts to diversify industry pathways, such as the Roybal School of Film and Television Production.

Influences and mentors for Washington include directors and collaborators like Spike Lee, Denzel Washington &mmdash; a prominent figure in Black acting — and Shonda Rhimes, the creator of Scandal, who played a significant role in her television success. She has frequently worked with contemporaries such as Viola Davis, Oprah Winfrey, and Julianne Moore, as well as her Scandal co-stars like Tony Goldwyn and Bellamy Young.

Through Simpson Street and her production endeavors, Kerry Washington has uplifted emerging writers, directors, and actors — focusing on projects that highlight underrepresented voices, while honoring the legacy of earlier generations of Black actresses and artists who paved the way, such as Diahann Carroll and Cicely Tyson.