Kerry Washington
Cracking The Clean Up
Whip With Sass And Class!
By
Rych McCain, International/Nationally Entertainment Columnist
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| Kerry Washington (Photo by Richard Cartwright for ABC-TV) |
The new ABC-TV Network Drama Series “Scandal” is based off of the real life
exploits of Judy Smith, an African American attorney with a legal and public
relations background. Smith has served as an Assistant United States Attorney
and Special Counsel to the US Attorney of The District of Columbia as well as
being appointed as Special Assistant and Deputy Press Secretary to President
George H.W. Bush. Her distinguished professional track record and experience in
both the legal and PR field equipped her to hone her God given talent to “fix”
sticky political situations. She started Smith & Company, a Strategic and
Crisis Communications Firm and has handled major clients, corporations and
foreign governments who had messy situations that needed cleaning up. In “Scandal,” Smith is portrayed as Olivia
Pope played by sexy, sassy and classy Kerry Washington.
The show was created by another African
American sistah, super writer/producer Shonda Rhimes who also wrote and created
“Gray’s Anatomy” and “Private Practice.” The real life Judy
Smith is an attractive, no-nonsense, sexy lady with brains, wit, class and
style so it was a natural that Washington got the part because she personifies
all of those same qualities. Washington is a native New Yorker from The Bronx
and received her BA degree in Theater from George Washington University in
Washington, D.C. She has an impressive array of TV, Film and Broadway credits
under her belt and is considered to be one of the sexiest, in-demand actresses
in tinsel town. “Scandal” airs on
ABC, Thursdays 10/9 C and is destine to be a major hit!
How did Washington land the lead role of
such an unusual show? She explains, “The script was sent to me by my agent but
I really wasn’t looking to do a television show at the time but I fell in love
with the writing and with the world of the show and with the complexity of the
character.” How much has Washington conferred with the real Judy smith? She
lights up, “I’ve actually spent quite of bit of time with her. She’s a producer
on the show and she’s very hands-on. My research is really important to me when
I’m developing a character and working on material. So I’ve spent a lot of time
with Judy and talked with her about the brain of a crisis manager, how to think
strategically and her perspective, her own ethical line and how she draws them.
You know, all of that kind of stuff.”
The on screen Olivia Pope is tough as
nails. Is the real Judy as mean in real life? Washington laughs, “Judy is not
but it’s debatable whether Olivia is. If you really look at every moment that
she’s been very firm with somebody, it’s been for their own best interest. She
hasn’t been cool. She’s been honest with people about the consequences that are
possible if they don’t approach a situation in a way that she thinks is best
and smartest. She’s not a cool person.” It is indeed a rare occasion when an
African American stars in their own major network show and it is NOT a comedy!
Does Washington feel like a TV historical pioneer or trailblazer breaking this
kind of ground? She is very modest and replies, “You know me. I just really
just try to stay focused on the work of it and not think too much of that kind
of stuff. I really don’t have control over any of those kinds of details. I
just try to stay focus on what I can have an impact on which is the work
itself.”
“Scandal”
is on course to make Olivia Pope very popular. Is Washington prepared to be
known as Olivia for life? She laughs again, “I’ve really been blessed. I’ve had
a great career. I just want to be able to play lots of different roles and lots
of different people. I’m happy to play Olivia Pope for as long as the public
will let me, for as long as the people support the show. But I’m also thrilled
that this opportunity to play her comes after a career where I’ve already had
the honor and privilege to establish myself in a range of roles already. So I’m
really thrilled to add this character to my resume and to my life experience.”
Rych McCain Media/Syndication tm
(You DID Hear It From Me!)
E-Mail: feedbackrych@sbcglobal.net
