These days, it is almost impossible to go a day without hearing the name Olivia Pope!
She is a Washington, D.C. -based crisis manager who runs her own firm, Pope & Associates,
that specializes in political situations and the main character plays the role with breathtaking ease. Unless you live under a rock, yes, we are taking about the ABC hit series Scandal's
leading lady Kerry Washington.
Kerry Marisa Washington is an American actress born in The Bronx, NY to Valerie, a
professor and educational consultant, and Earl Washington, a real estate broker. Her father's family is African American, from South Carolina and Brooklyn, and her mother's family is Jamaican American, from Manhattan. She is also related to former Secretary of State Colin Powell through her mother.
She always had a love for the performing arts and started out with ballet lessons as a young
child. She later attended the Spence School in Manhattan, a prestigious private school. In
addition to appearing in school productions, she was a member of a theater group that
tackled social issues. Washington soon won a theater scholarship to George Washington University, where she earned a degree in performance studies. She has had major roles in
movies such as Django Unchained (2012), Ray (2004) and The Last King of Scotland (2006).
Washington is active in many social and political causes. She is a member of the Creative
Coalition and sits on the board of V-Day, an organization that works to end violence against women. Washington is also a strong supporter of President Barack Obama and has
campaigned on his behalf.
In June 2013, Washington married professional football player Nnamdi Asomugha and they
are expecting their first child together.
