Hollywood’s Hottest: Kerry Washington

In April 2014, Time magazine listed Kerry Washington as one of its "Most Influential People in the World" – let’s have a look at the path which catapulted American actress and style icon from being financially unable to qualify for health insurance to becoming one of the highest earning and best-loved stars in Hollywood today.

Kerry Washington’s first venture into showbiz came with her appearance in ABC telefilm Magical Make-Over (1994) and her acting career continued as she was cast in television shows including Standard Deviants (1996). Moving onto the big screen, Washington came to be known around the world for her performances in Ray (2004), Mr and Mrs Smith (2005) The Last King of Scotland (2006), and Quentin Tarantino’s critically acclaimed blockbuster, Django Unchained (2012).

From 2012 Kerry Washington has starred in smash hit T.V. drama Scandal, cementing her position at the top of the A-list. Washington plays DC crisis management expert Olivia Pope, a quick-thinking and sharp-dressing former attorney, who advises the US president as well as having an affair with him. Both the fictional Olivia Pope and her real-life actor have attracted attention in the fashion world: Washington came second in People magazine's 2013 100 Most Beautiful People list, and in the same year featured on the covers of seven magazines including Elle, Vanity Fair and Glamour.

Kerry Washington has been nominated for a host of awards for her part in Scandal, including the Primetime Emmy for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama Series, the Screen Actors Guild Award for Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Drama Series, and a Golden Globe for Best Actress in a Television series.