KERRY WASHINGTON

Washington at Hollywood Life Magazine’s 2007 Breakthrough Awards
Born January 31, 1977 (1977-01-31) (age 31)
The Bronx, New York, United States
Kerry Washington (born January 31, 1977) is an American actress. She is known for her roles as Ray Charles' wife, Della Bea Robinson, in the film Ray (2004), as Kay Amin in The Last King of Scotland, and Alicia Masters in the 2005 live-action Fantastic Four film and its 2007 sequel, Fantastic Four: Rise of the Silver Surfer. She has also starred in the critically acclaimed independent films Our Song and The Dead Girl.

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Washington, an African American, was born in The Bronx, New York City, New York, the daughter of a successful real estate broker father and a professor and educational consultant mother. She attended The Spence School in Manhattan, graduating in 1994; fellow alumni include Gwyneth Paltrow and Emmy Rossum. Washington went on to earn a theater degree in 1998 from George Washington University.
Career
Washington made her screen debut in the ABC telefilm Magical Make-Over (1994). She was in the cast of the 1996 PBS sketch comedy-style educational series Standard Deviants, and she appeared in the short "3D" and the feature film Our Song in 2000. She went on to roles in several movies, including Save the Last Dance (2001), The Human Stain (2003), Spike Lee's She Hate Me (2004), Ray (2004), Mr. & Mrs. Smith (2005), Little Man &I Think I Love My Wife (2007), and, in a departure, an accented, period role as a wife of 1970s Ugandan dictator Idi Amin in the UK historical drama The Last King of Scotland (2006). Washington has also appeared in the recurring role Chelina Hall on the ABC television series Boston Legal, and in several episodes of the A&E cable-TV series 100 Centre Street.

She is the new spokeperson for L'Oreal starring in commercials and ads alongside fellow actresses Scarlett Johansson and Eva Longoria, and model Doutzen Kroes.

She also co-directed and appeared in the music video for hip-hop artist Common's song, "I Want You", the fourth single off of his album Finding Forever.


Filmography
Year Title Role Notes
2010 Bury Me Standing Mod In Production
2008 Mama Black Widow Sedalia Mama Tilson Pre-Production
Lakeview Terrace Lisa Mattson Post-Production
Life Is Hot in Cracktown Post-Production
Woman in Burka Kerry
Psych (TV series) Mira Gaffney Episode: There's Something About Mira
2007 Fantastic Four: Rise of the Silver Surfer Alicia Masters
I Think I Love My Wife Nikki Tru
2006 The Dead Girl Rosetta
The Last King of Scotland Kay Amin
Little Man Vanessa
Boston Legal (TV series) Chelina Hall (5 episodes, 2005-2006)
2005 Wait Maggie
Fantastic Four Alicia Masters
Mr. & Mrs. Smith Jasmine
Sexual Life Rosalie
2004 Ray Della Bea Robinson
She Hate Me Fatima Goodrich
Strip Search (TV)
Against the Ropes Renee
2003 Sin Kassie
The Human Stain Ellie
The United States of Leland Ayesha
2002 The Guardian Drea Westbrook Episode: The Next Life
Bad Company Julie
Take the A Train Keisha
2001 100 Centre Street (TV series)
Law & Order (TV series) Allie Lawrence Episode: 3 Dawg Night
NYPD Blue (TV series) Episode: Franco, My Dear, I Don't Give a Damn
Lift (TV series) Niecy
Save the Last Dance Chenille Reynolds
2001 3D Angie
Our Song Lanisha Brown
1996 Standard Deviants (TV series) Kerry
1994 ABC Afterschool Specials Heather Episode: Magical Make-Over


Personal life
Washington was engaged to actor David Moscow from October 2004 to March 2007.
As a sort of souvenir/memento, she usually tries keep something from every character that she plays whether it is an item of wardrobe or a piece of furniture from the house that the character lived in.


Awards/nominations

Washington at the Tribeca Film Festival BET Awards
2007- Best Actress The Last King of Scotland: Nominated
Black Reel Awards
2007- Best Supporting Actress The Last King of Scotland:Nominated
2005- Best Actress, Drama Ray: Nominated
2003- Best Actress, Network/Cable Lift :Nominated
2002- Best Independent Actor Lift: Nominated
2002- Best Supporting Actress Theatrical, Save the Last Dance: Nominated
Image Awards
2007- Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Motion Picture The Last King of Scotland: Nominated
2006- Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Drama Series Boston Legal: Nominated
2005- Outstanding Actress in a Motion Picture Ray: Winner
Independent Spirit Awards
2002- Best Female Lead Lift: Nominated
Satellite Award
2005- Best Actress in a Comedy/Musical Ray: Nominated
Screen Actors Guild Awards
2005- Outstanding Cast in a Motion Picture Ray: Nominated