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Kerry Washington Through the Years: The ‘Scandal’ Actress Before & After Fame

By:
Paige Kindlick
January 31, 2024 3:23PM EST
Kerry Washington
David Fisher/Shutterstock

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.

1 of 19

‘Our Song’

‘Our Song’
Paul Mezey/Beech Hill/Journeyman

Kerry Washington appears in the 2000 film Our Song. It was her first feature film.

April 26, 2022, 1:59PM
2 of 19

Kerry Washington at the 2001 Teen Choice Awards

Kerry Washington at the 2001 Teen Choice Awards
Peter Brooker/Shutterstock

Kerry Washingotn holds up a Teen Choice Awards surfboard during the 2001 ceremony in LA. It was Aug. 12 and she was looking so cute in a strapless black dress with patches of fabric.

April 26, 2022, 1:59PM
3 of 19

‘Bad Company’

‘Bad Company’
Christine Loss/Touchstone/Kobal/

Kerry Washington appears in the 2002 Joel Schumacher film Bad Company. She played Julie in the film, which was about a man (Chris Rock) who gets recruited by the C.I.A. after the death of his Ivy League-educated twin brother.

April 26, 2022, 1:59PM
4 of 19

Kerry Washington in 2005

Kerry Washington in 2005
Marion Curtis/Starpix/Shuttersto

Kerry Washington strikes a pose during the National Board Of Review Of Motion Pictures annual gala at New York’s Tavern On The Green. She wore a silky black number to the January 11, 2005 event.

April 26, 2022, 1:59PM
5 of 19

Kerry Washington at the Premiere of ‘Against the Ropes’

Kerry Washington at the Premiere of ‘Against the Ropes’
Bei/Shutterstock

Kerry Washington glows in a strapless lime green number during the premiere of the movie Against the Ropes in LA on Feb. 11, 2004. She looked so chic.

April 26, 2022, 1:59PM

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6 of 19

‘She Hate Me’

‘She Hate Me’
Moviestore/Shutterstock

Kerry Washington appears in a scene from the 2004 Spike Lee film She Hate Me. The dark comedy was about a former biotech executive (Anthony Mackie) who turns to impregnating wealthy lesbians for profit after getting canned from his job.

April 26, 2022, 1:59PM
7 of 19

Andie MacDowell, Kerry Washington & Aishwarya Rai

Andie MacDowell, Kerry Washington & Aishwarya Rai
Francois Durand/Shutterstock

Andie MacDowell, Kerry Washington, and Aishwarya Rai team up for the premiere of The Da Vinci Code at Cannes Film Festival on May 617, 2006. They were all dressed to the nines.

April 26, 2022, 1:59PM
8 of 19

Kerry Washington at the Premiere of ‘The Last King of Scotland’

Kerry Washington at the Premiere of ‘The Last King of Scotland’
Jonathan Hordle/Shutterstock

Kerry Washington is stunning in a blushing pink gown during the London premiere of The Last King of Scotland on Oct. 18, 2006. Her sheer chiffon frock featured a black beaded beltline.

April 26, 2022, 1:59PM
9 of 19

Kerry Washington in 2007

Kerry Washington in 2007
Henry Lamb/BEI/Shutterstock

Kerry Washington wows in a shiny ruched party dress with a bubble skirt during the Women’s Project Women of Achievement Gala in New York on Mar. 12, 2007. She waved and smiled at onlookers.

April 26, 2022, 1:59PM
10 of 19

Kerry Washington in 2009

Kerry Washington in 2009
Carolyn Contino/BEI/Shutterstock

Kerry Washington looks jaw-dropping in pink during the opening night of David Mamet’s Race in New York on Dec. 6, 2009. The silver beading on her minidress matched her peep-toe heels.

April 26, 2022, 1:59PM
11 of 19

Kerry Washington at the 2011 Vanity Fair Oscar Party

Kerry Washington at the 2011 Vanity Fair Oscar Party
Matt Baron/BEI/Shutterstock

Kerry Washington shows some serious skin during Vanity Fair’s party celebrating the 83rd Annual Academy Awards on Feb. 27, 2011. Her silvery dress revealed some hearty side-boob and a ton of her bare back.

April 26, 2022, 1:59PM
12 of 19

Kerry Washington at the 2015 Golden Globes

Kerry Washington at the 2015 Golden Globes
David Fisher/Shutterstock

Kerry Washington looks like a princess in pink and navy Mary Katrantzou during the 72nd Annual Golden Globe Awards on Jan. 11, 2015. Her off-the-shoulder look also featured a full, A-line skirt.

April 26, 2022, 1:59PM
13 of 19

Kerry Washington at the GLSEN Respect Awards

Kerry Washington at the GLSEN Respect Awards
David Buchan/BEI/Shutterstock

Kerry Washington oozes flower power in a Roberto Cavalli suit during the GLSEN Respect Awards in LA on Oct. 20, 2017. She tied the look together with navy blue eyeshadow and a red velvet clutch.

April 26, 2022, 1:59PM
14 of 19

Kerry Washington in 2019

Kerry Washington in 2019
Shutterstock

Kerry Washington is stunning in a lace Brock Collection ensemble during The Hollywood Reporter’s ‘Women in Entertainment’ Gala on Dec. 11, 2019. She had her hair in long braids and wore shiny gold heels.

April 26, 2022, 1:59PM
15 of 19

‘Little Fires Everywhere’

‘Little Fires Everywhere’
Hulu/Kobal/Shutterstock

Reese Witherspoon appears as Elena Richardson alongside Kerry Washington as Mia Warren in the 2020 miniseries Little Fires Everywhere. Based on Celeste Ng’s 2017 bestseller, ‘Little Fires Everywhere’ follows the intertwined fates of the picture-perfect Richardson family and the enigmatic mother and daughter who upended their lives.

April 26, 2022, 1:59PM
16 of 19

Kerry Washington at the 2021 Primetime Emmy Awards

Kerry Washington at the 2021 Primetime Emmy Awards
Chris Pizzello/Invision/AP/Shutt

Kerry Washington is stunning in silver at the 73rd Primetime Emmy Awards on Sep. 19, 2021. Her silky Etro number was cinched together with a corset.

April 26, 2022, 1:59PM
17 of 19

Kerry Washington at the 2022 SAG Awards

Kerry Washington at the 2022 SAG Awards
Matt Baron/Shutterstock

Kerry Washington is a burst of sunshine in a yellow Celia Kritharioti Couture gown during the 28th Annual Screen Actors Guild Awards in Santa Monica, California on Feb. 27, 2022. The dress featured a boned corset-style top with a full taffeta skirt below.

April 26, 2022, 1:59PM
18 of 19

Kerry Washington at the 2022 Producers Guild Awards

Kerry Washington at the 2022 Producers Guild Awards
Matt Baron/Shutterstock

Kerry Washington glows in pale coral Sergio Hudson at the 33rd Producers Guild Awards on Mar. 19, 2022. She leveled up the look with diamonds from Chopard.

April 26, 2022, 1:59PM
19 of 19

Kerry Washington at the 2023 Critics Choice Awards

Kerry Washington at the 2023 Critics Choice Awards
John Salangsang/Shutterstock

Kerry Washington looked enchanting in purple and pink Armani Prive during the 28th Annual Critics’ Choice Awards on Jan. 15, 2023. Her strapless dress was covered in intricate sequined details and she wore her hair half pinned back, smooth of the top and full at the bottom.

January 30, 2023, 5:05PM
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