![Kerry Washington](https://hollywoodlife.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/kerry-washington-social.jpg?quality=100)
Kerry Washington, born January 31, 1977, is one of the biggest actresses in Hollywood, best known for her role as crisis manager Olivia Pope on Scandal.
Kerry Washington had a humble start, however. She first earned her Screen Actor’s Guild membership card for a small commercial role, before making her real screen debut in a 1994 television movie. She appeared in Save The Last Dance, Bad Company, Spike Lee’s She Hate Me, and Quentin Tarantino’s Django Unchained, both of which she earned critical praise for.
Scandal premiered in 2012 and ran for 7 seasons, during which time Kerry earned 2 Primetime Emmy nominations. She also snagged an Emmy nomination for her portrayal of Anita Hill in the HBO television political thriller film Confirmation (2016), and another for the Hulu miniseries Little Fires Everywhere (2020).
Here, you can see Kerry’s glam evolution over the years. Care to see how the star went from an unknown to an A-lister? Check out the gallery here.
‘Our Song’
![‘Our Song’](https://hollywoodlife.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/04/kerry-washington-then-now-ss-09.jpg?w=680)
Kerry Washington at the 2001 Teen Choice Awards
![Kerry Washington at the 2001 Teen Choice Awards](https://hollywoodlife.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/04/kerry-washington-then-now-ss-04.jpg?w=680)
‘Bad Company’
![‘Bad Company’](https://hollywoodlife.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/04/kerry-washington-then-now-ss-08.jpg?w=680)
Kerry Washington in 2005
![Kerry Washington in 2005](https://hollywoodlife.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/04/kerry-washington-then-now-ss-10.jpg?w=680)
Kerry Washington at the Premiere of ‘Against the Ropes’
![Kerry Washington at the Premiere of ‘Against the Ropes’](https://hollywoodlife.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/04/kerry-washington-then-now-ss-19.jpg?w=680)
‘She Hate Me’
![‘She Hate Me’](https://hollywoodlife.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/04/kerry-washington-then-now-ss-12.jpg?w=680)
Andie MacDowell, Kerry Washington & Aishwarya Rai
![Andie MacDowell, Kerry Washington & Aishwarya Rai](https://hollywoodlife.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/04/kerry-washington-then-now-ss-18.jpg?w=680)
Kerry Washington at the Premiere of ‘The Last King of Scotland’
![Kerry Washington at the Premiere of ‘The Last King of Scotland’](https://hollywoodlife.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/04/kerry-washington-then-now-ss-17.jpg?w=680)
Kerry Washington in 2007
![Kerry Washington in 2007](https://hollywoodlife.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/04/kerry-washington-then-now-ss-16.jpg?w=680)
Kerry Washington in 2009
![Kerry Washington in 2009](https://hollywoodlife.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/04/kerry-washington-then-now-ss-15.jpg?w=680)
Kerry Washington at the 2011 Vanity Fair Oscar Party
![Kerry Washington at the 2011 Vanity Fair Oscar Party](https://hollywoodlife.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/04/kerry-washington-then-now-ss-14.jpg?w=680)
Kerry Washington at the 2015 Golden Globes
![Kerry Washington at the 2015 Golden Globes](https://hollywoodlife.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/04/kerry-washington-then-now-ss-11.jpg?w=680)
Kerry Washington at the GLSEN Respect Awards
![Kerry Washington at the GLSEN Respect Awards](https://hollywoodlife.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/04/kerry-washington-then-now-ss-07.jpg?w=680)
Kerry Washington in 2019
![Kerry Washington in 2019](https://hollywoodlife.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/04/kerry-washington-then-now-ss-06.jpg?w=680)
‘Little Fires Everywhere’
![‘Little Fires Everywhere’](https://hollywoodlife.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/04/kerry-washington-then-now-ss-05.jpg?w=680)
Kerry Washington at the 2021 Primetime Emmy Awards
![Kerry Washington at the 2021 Primetime Emmy Awards](https://hollywoodlife.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/04/kerry-washington-then-now-ss-03.jpg?w=680)
Kerry Washington at the 2022 SAG Awards
![Kerry Washington at the 2022 SAG Awards](https://hollywoodlife.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/04/kerry-washington-then-now-ss-02.jpg?w=680)
Kerry Washington at the 2022 Producers Guild Awards
![Kerry Washington at the 2022 Producers Guild Awards](https://hollywoodlife.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/04/kerry-washington-then-now-ss-01.jpg?w=680)
Kerry Washington at the 2023 Critics Choice Awards
![Kerry Washington at the 2023 Critics Choice Awards](https://hollywoodlife.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/05/Kerry-Washington-Young-SS.jpg?w=680)