Anecdotes

Was accepted into Yale University and Dartmouth College but declined both.

Growing up in the Bronx, she attended the same local Boys and Girls Club of America as Jennifer Lopez.

Her father is African-American and her mother is of Jamaican ancestry (including African, English and Scottish).

Jennifer Lopez was her high school dancing teacher.

Is the only child of a real-estate agent father, Earl, and a mother, Valerie, who is college professor.

Has played Jamie Foxx's wife in two films: Ray (2004) and Django déchaîné (2012). As of 2018, those are the only two Best Picture Oscar nominated films that either has appeared in.

Gave birth to her first child at age 37, a daughter named Isabelle Amarachi Asomugha on April 21, 2014. Child's father is her husband, Nnamdi Asomugha.

Also graduated from the private, girls' Spence School in New York City (1994), where she acted in plays. Gwyneth Paltrow, Emmy Rossum and Sally Pressman also attended Spence School.

Was seven months pregnant with her daughter Isabelle when she completed filming the third season of Scandale (2012). Was eight months pregnant with her son Caleb when she completed filming the sixth season of Scandale (2012).

Kerry Washington is a cousin of Milly Silva, who ran to be New Jersey's lieutenant governor in 2013. Silva was on the Democratic ticket with State Senator Barbara Buono, who was running for governor. Washington campaigned for Buono and Silva.

Gave birth to her second child at age 39, a son named Caleb Kelechi Asomugha on October 5, 2016. Child's father is her husband, Nnamdi Asomugha.

She regularly attends church, but also insists to reporters that "I don't talk about my personal life.".

Married her boyfriend of a year Nnamdi Asomugha on June 24, 2013.

Returned to work three months after giving birth to her daughter Isabelle to begin filming the fourth season of Scandale (2012). Also returned to work five months after giving birth to her son Caleb to begin filming the sequel Les Bagnoles 3 (2017).

Is a Phi Beta Kappa graduate of George Washington University's theater program (1998). She double majored in anthropology and sociology.

Was on the Time 100, a list of the 100 most influential people in the world by Time magazine. (2014)

She was engaged to actor David Moscow from October 2004 to March 2007.

Washington was cast in the role of Mahandra McGinty on the television series Wonderfalls (2004) and played Mahandra in the original pilot. But when the series was picked up, she was recast and her scenes in the pilot were reshot with the actress who replaced her, Tracie Thoms.

Friends with Oprah Winfrey and Nicole Kidman.

Studied acting at Michael Howard Studios in New York City.

Ranked #65 on Maxim magazine's Hot 100 Women of 2014 list.

On May 19, 2013, she received an honorary degree (Doctor of Fine Arts) from George Washington University, before she gave her commencement speech.

Attended George Washington University with civil rights lawyer Dale Ho who transitioned from acting to working for the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU).

She was awarded a Star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame for Television at 6258 Hollywood Boulevard in Hollywood, California on December 2, 2024. Tyler Perry and Shonda Rhimes were guest speakers at the ceremony. Her Walk of Fame star is located in front of The W Hollywood Hotel.