Kerry Washington

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Kerry Washington

Washington at Hollywood Life Magazine’s 2007 Breakthrough Awards
Born January 5, 1977 (1977-01-05) (age 32)
The Bronx, New York, United States

Kerry Washington (born January 5, 1977)[1] 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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[edit] Early life

Washington was born in the Bronx, New York, the daughter of a successful real estate broker father and a professor and educational consultant mother.[2] She performed with the Tada theater teen group in 1985, when she was 8. She attended Spence School in Manhattan, graduating in 1994. Fellow alumni include Gwyneth Paltrow and Emmy Rossum. Washington went on to earn a B.A. degree in theater in 1998 from The George Washington University. She also studied at Michael Howard Studios in New York City.

[edit] Personal life

Washington was engaged to actor David Moscow from October 2004 to March 2007.[3]

As a sort of souvenir or memento, she usually tries to 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.[4]

She is at times referred to as a political activist and was a supporter of Barack Obama's presidential candidacy.[5]

[edit] 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 appear 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 of 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 spokesperson for L'Oréal, appearing in commercials and ads alongside fellow actresses Scarlett Johansson and Eva Longoria Parker, 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.

Washington also serves as the narrator of the critically-acclaimed documentary about the New Orleans-based teenage TBC Brass Band, entitled From the Mouthpiece on Back, which also lists The Roots as one of the executive producers of the movie.

Washington has appeared several times on Real Time with Bill Maher, most recently on April 17, 2009.

[edit] Filmography

[edit] Film

Year Title Role Notes
2000 Our Song Lanisha Brown
3D Angie Boyz n Da Hood
2001 Save the Last Dance Chenille Reynolds
Lift Niecy
2002 Take the A Train Keisha
Bad Company Julie
2003 The United States of Leland Ayesha
The Human Stain Ellie
Sin Kassie
2004 Against the Ropes Renee
Strip Search Unknown TV film
She Hate Me Fatima Goodrich
Ray Della Bea Robinson
2005 Sexual Life Rosalie
Mr. & Mrs. Smith Jasmine
Fantastic Four Alicia Masters
Wait Maggie
2006 Little Man Vanessa
The Last King of Scotland Kay Amin
The Dead Girl Rosetta
2007 I Think I Love My Wife Nikki Tru
Fantastic Four: Rise of the Silver Surfer Alicia Masters
2008 Woman in Burka Kerry
Lakeview Terrace Lisa Mattson
Miracle at St. Anna Zana Wilder
2009 Life Is Hot in Cracktown Marybeth awaiting release
A Thousand Words TBA post-production
2010 Mother and Child Lucy post-production

[edit] Television

Year Title Role Notes
1994 ABC Afterschool Special Heather Episode: Magical Make-Over
1996 Standard Deviants Kerry
2001 NYPD Blue Maya Young Episode: Franco, My Dear, I Don't Give a Damn
Law & Order Allie Lawrence Episode: 3 Dawg Night
100 Centre Street Unknown 5 episodes
2002 The Guardian Drea Westbrook Episode: The Next Life
2005-2006 Boston Legal Chelina Hall 5 episodes
2008 Psych Mira Gaffney Episode: There's Something About Mira

[edit] Awards and nominations

Washington at the Tribeca Film Festival.

[edit] References

  1. ^ Jason Buchanan (2008). "Kerry Washington:Biography on MSN". MSN. http://www.movies.msn.com/celebrities/celebrity-biography/kerry-washington/. Retrieved on 2008-07-18. 
  2. ^ Kerry Washington Biography (1977)
  3. ^ Washington indicated she was dating again during her appearance on the March 16, 2007 episode of The View.
  4. ^ We Love Kerry Washington
  5. ^ "Kerry Washington voices support for Senator Obama in Georgia". http://my.barackobama.com/page/community/post/cheryljewell/CGxkG. 

[edit] External links

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