How Kerry Washington Turned Acting Credits Into Production Power

Kerry Washington, a renowned American actress and producer, is recognized for her excellent performances in multiple television shows and movies in the entertainment industry. At 49 years old, she has built a career that has placed her at the forefront of Hollywood.

Influenced by growing up in the Bronx, a crucible of art and culture, this community formed the definition of her identity, creativity, and self – expression. As a result of this, she developed a passion for the performing arts.

This has transformed into a career that intersects acting, production, and entrepreneurship with the aim of amplifying marginalized voices and championing social change. From acting in numerous powerhouse roles to directing and producing films that impact people and communities, Kerry has made impactful and intentional strides throughout her career.

Washington has been acting for more than thirty years, delivering around 65 performances across film, television, and the stage. 

One of her first breakout roles was as a guest star in the film “Save the Last Dance”. She played Chenille, a direct and loyal best friend, bringing depth and heart to an otherwise side character. Her performance here highlighted the world of success that would be possible in her career. After this, she continued to play strategic and diverse roles in films like “Ray”, “The Last King of Scotland”, “Django Unchained”, and “Fantastic Four”, ensuring her name stayed relevant in film conversations.

She eventually rose to prominence with her portrayal of Olivia Pope in Shonda Rhimes’ acclaimed television series “Scandal,” which aired from 2012 to 2018. This role demonstrated her versatility as an actress and made her a symbol of empowerment for women of color in the media. This performance earned her a Primetime Emmy nomination, making her the first African American woman to be nominated for a lead role in a network television drama in nearly 40 years.

Additionally, she has received several Golden Globe, Screen Actors Guild Awards, and Tony nominations and won multiple honors in the NAACP Image Awards, including Outstanding Actress in a Motion Picture.

Recently, she has starred in the Knives Out mystery sequel, Wake Up Dead Man, the mystery drama Little Fire Everywhere, the comedy drama UnPrisoned, the crime thriller Animals, the historical drama The Six Triple Eight, and the TV drama Imperfect Women.

Kerry Washington noted that one of the greatest gifts of her career is stepping into producing and directing, so she’s no longer waiting to be invited to the party. She’s building a table that she actually wants to be at. In directing and producing, she has more agency, more authority, more choice, and more power. 

She first got into directing in 2018, when she went behind the camera to lead several episodes of Scandal. Since then, she has directed a couple of episodes in Insecure, SMILF, and Reasonable Doubt.

As a producer, Kerry has created about sixteen stories that reflect a diverse range of visual and audio experiences. In 2016, she co-founded the production company Simpson Street, named after the Bronx street where she grew up, aiming to create content that empowers women and communities of color.

Simpson Street focuses on storytelling across film, television, and podcasts, producing standout projects such as Netflix’s 2019 Emmy-nominated TV movie American Son, the NAACP Image Award-nominated action thriller Shadow Force, Hulu’s 2020 Emmy-nominated miniseries Little Fires Everywhere, the NAACP Image Award-nominated Audible podcast The Prophecy, Hulu’s comedy-drama UnPrisoned, and the new Apple TV series Imperfect Women.

The production company also produces Reasonable Doubt, Raamla Mohamed’s legal drama for Hulu, which earned a fourth-season renewal in November. She is also currently developing Wisteria Lane, a Desperate Housewives spin-off for Onyx Collective, and an Audible series Between Me and You with Jurnee Smollett. Lastly, Netflix recently revealed that she will star in and executive-produce director Jaume Collet-Serra’s upcoming film, An Innocent Girl.

By producing, Washington has been able to create more opportunities for herself and take more risks. For instance, by acting in and producing an action movie, she created an opportunity for herself. This has afforded her the chance to work in a way where she’s always challenging herself. 

Kerry has discussed Simpson Street’s mission and the types of stories they produce. They like their work to be very specific, as the universal is in the specific. In an article by The Wrap, she said, “What we’re looking for when we say what makes us all the same is we all want the same things. We want to belong, we want to be loved, we want to feel safe, we want to live a life filled with justice and security. So how do we find those real core human values that we’re all looking for, but in a costume or in a context that feels unique and like something you’ve never seen before?”

Simpson Street looks for stories about very unique people, cultures, and situations, but develops stories and frameworks that are about the things we all share. Kerry has also imbued collaboration into Simpson Street. They have partnered with Reese Witherspoon’s company, Hello Sunshine, on Little Fires Everywhere and Elisabeth Moss’s company, Love & Squalor Pictures, on Imperfect Women. 

As Kerry Washington has grown as a woman and a creative, she dedicates herself to the power of art to change culture and transform hearts and minds.