Extraordinary Health Magazine Extraordinary Health Vol 22 | Page 28

“With my film roles,
I totally disappear into
those characters.”

With Buzzfeed confirming Scandal is the most talked about show
on Facebook and Twitter, it’s not surprising that Washington is
arguably Hollywood’s most popular actress for her role as Olivia
Pope, a power player who runs her own crisis management firm
on Capitol Hill. Recently, we were lucky enough to catch up with
the reigning Queen of Primetime at a convention for bloggers
in San Jose. We talked about Scandal’s return to primetime on
September 25, a new clothing line she’s launching with The
Limited, and how she stays healthy by focusing on what she calls
“the basics.”
Prior to Scandal, Washington was content with her film career
and was widely known for her memorable roles as Ray Charles’
wife in Ray, as Idi Amin’s wife in The Last King of Scotland
and as the girlfriend of Ben Grimm/The Thing in the Fantastic
Four films in 2005 and 2007. She balked at reading the script
for Scandal until she learned the show’s creator was Shonda
Rhimes, the brainchild responsible for the long-running success
of Grey’s Anatomy.
“Previously, I had enjoyed a very rewarding career as a character
actor,” Washington explained. “I really didn’t want a network
show, but I read the script and felt like the character of Olivia
Pope was written just for me. When I saw how complicated the
character was, I wanted the role really badly!”
Washington signed on for the first season in 2012 and worried,
along with her cast mates, that the show might be axed because
ABC initially ordered only six episodes. She credits social media
with saving the show because every member of the cast and
crew devoted time to engaging with fans.
“We were one of the first shows that had the entire cast on social
media,” she said. “In between scenes and on breaks, everyone
was tweeting. I was terrified of social media because I’m a very
private person, so I had to work with my social media manager,
Allison Peters, to establish a voice. It wasn’t easy for me at first,
but we all knew that in order for the show to continue, it would
be our fans and social media that would save us.”
Despite posting regular teasers and updates about her work,
Washington maintains she’s intensely private. It explains why
you won’t find her tweeting 24/7. Occasionally, you might catch
her mentioning her dog or her parents, but that’s about the only
glimpse you’ll get into her everyday life. If fans are puzzled about
why no one but President Obama has seen a pic of her new baby
or why talking about her marriage to former NFL player Nnamdi
Asomugha is off limits, she offered the best rationale we’ve ever
heard for drawing professional and personal boundaries.

“SCANDAL - ABC’s “Scandal” stars
Kerry Washington as Olivia Pope.
(ABC/Craig Sjodin)

“With my film roles, I totally disappear into those characters,”
she said. “With Scandal, there is no disappearing because
I’m coming into people’s homes every week, and they are
watching me while they’re in their pajamas and their underwear.
I think it’s unfair for audiences to know everything about my
personal life because they might not be into the characters
or the show as much if they are wondering about my marriage.
I just like to keep my life a mystery so fans can enjoy the
show more.”