Why is she a Sci-Fi Gal? Kerry has graced the screen in movies like Fantastic Four: Rise of the Silver Surfer, her upcoming film Lakeview Terrace, and has not disappointed us in movies like Mr. and Mrs. Smith as Angelina Jolie's sidekick or Bad Company. (Despite how horrible that movie was)

To many outside the indie film world, the emergence of actress Kerry Washington seemed to have come from out of nowhere. In actuality, however, this youthful, supremely talented and drop-dead gorgeous performer paid her dues performing on stage and appearing in small films before breaking into large Hollywood movies. Though a challenge for most actresses of lesser caliber, Washington particularly excelled at playing characters younger than herself. Noted for studiously researching her characters, this highly ambitious actress became a favorite of such famed directors as Tim Story and Taylor Hackford.

Born in New York, NY on Jan. 31, 1977, Kerry Washington grew up in the Bronx. After the sixth grade, Washington left public school to attend junior high and high school at the prestigious Spence School for Girls in Manhattan. She later attended the theater program at George Washington University in Washington, D.C. As a presidential performing arts scholar, Washington created a personalized major called Performance Studies, which allowed her to examine the role performing arts played in a community. While attending G.W., Washington worked closely with the local theater community and helped create a support system for people of color in the arts called Shades of the Fine Arts. After graduation, Washington spent three months in India to immerse herself in a foreign culture and to touch-up on her yoga skills.

Returning to United States, Washington moved back home with her parents, where she lived while starring in her first feature film, "Our Song" (2000). Though already 22 at the time, Washington convincingly played a wise, but vulnerable, 16-year-old from the Crown Heights projects in Brooklyn. Despite the difference in age, Washington’s obvious and special connection to the character showed, winning raves for her performance which echoed across the film festival circuit. In her first major film, "Save the Last Dance" (2001), Washington gave another breakthrough performance as a street-smart teenage mom who takes in a suburban white girl (Julia Stiles) who has just transferred to an inner-city school. The surprise hit positioned Washington to play meatier roles, as her stock went up in the casting world.

For her next notable project, the made-for-cable crime drama, "Lift" (Showtime, 2002), Washington played a petty thief forced to give up her way of life to mend a broken relationship with her mother. Critically acclaimed for her performance, the role ended up earning Washington a 2002 Independent Spirit Award nomination. Coming off such critical acclaim, she next sadly appeared in the blockbuster disappointment, "Bad Company" (2002) – a purported action-comedy that starred heavy-hitters Chris Rock and Sir Anthony Hopkins. Unfortunately, the movie failed to make a connection with neither audiences or critics. In response, Washington once again moved back to giving outstanding performances in smaller fare such as in "The United States of Leland" (2003), a sullen drama about a suburban teen who commits a shocking crime. Though Washington’s performance was singled out for special praise, the film itself was widely criticized for being another maudlin and self-important independent film.

Washington got a similar reception with her next project, "The Human Stain" (2003) – a film about a university professor hiding his true identity, which reunited Washington with her “Bad Company” co-star, Sir Tony Hopkins. Unfortunately, it too, proved to be box office flop. Despite the failures on her resume, however, Washington continued on her career track with typical charm and good cheer. She scored the lead role in "She Hate Me" (2004), a Spike Lee Joint about a down-and-out biotech executive (Anthony Mackie) who is offered some easy money when his ex-girlfriend-turned-lesbian (Washington) offers cash to impregnate her and her girlfriend. Once again, critics and audiences failed to appreciate the film.

Luckily, Washington finally managed to score big with her winning performance as Della Bea Robinson in director Taylor Hackford’s "Ray" (2004), a biopic about the late, great genius of soul, Ray Charles. Lauded by critics and frequented by audiences, “Ray” eventually won its star, Jamie Foxx, a much-deserved Oscar for Best Actor in a Motion Picture. Washington, too, received kudos for her performance as Charles’ strong and resolute second wife who endured his drug abuse and infidelity. Meanwhile, she received another crack at major exposure when she signed on to play Alicia Masters, the blind love interest of the Thing (Michael Chiklis) in the big screen adaptation of the comic book classic, "The Fantastic Four" (2005). Though the character was originally conceived as a blond-haired, blue-eyed Caucasian woman in the comic books, director Tim Story re-cast the part to accommodate Washington – a move based entirely on her obvious talent.

Prior to the comic book adventure, Washington played the only friend and cohort of an assassin (Angelina Jolie) who is married to a seemingly boring husband (Brad Pitt) and trapped in a ho-hum suburban life in the action-thriller, “Mr. & Mrs. Smith” (2005). She also played an unsuspecting Chicago suburbanite who comes into possession of a stolen diamond, leading three-foot-high jewel thief (Marlon Wayans) to pose as a baby to get back his prize in the misbegotten comedy, “Little Man” (2006), another tasteless and unfunny comedy from the Brothers Wayans.

In 2006, the actress made a dazzling, dramatic turn co-starring in “The Last King of Scotland” (2006). Cast as Kay Amin, the out-of-favor wife of despot Idi Amin – played by an intense and charismatic Forest Whitaker, who also nabbed a Best Actor Oscar. In the prestigious film, Washington embarked on a risky affair with the genocidal dictator’s personal physician (James McAvoy). Returning to comedic fare, Washington starred once again opposite Chris Rock in “I Think I Love My Wife” (2007), a romantic comedy about a happily married office worker who daydreams about other women until he encounters the mistress of an old friend who tries to seduce him. Chocking up yet another crowd-pleaser, in 2007, Washington subsequently revived the role of Alicia Masters for the inevitable sequel, “Fantastic Four: Rise of the Silver Surfer.”

Born: January 31, 1977 in Bronx, New YorkJob Titles: ActorSignificant Others
Companion: David Moscow. met in high school; began dating c. 2002; engaged as of October 2004; split February 2007
Education
Spence, New York
Milestones
2000 Made feature film debut in the Sundance-screened "Our Song"; released theatrically in 2001
2001 Had major supporting role in "Save the Last Dance"
2001 Returned to Sundance as star of the independent "Lift", playing an accomplished shoplifter
2002 Cast in support of Anthony Hopkins and Chris Rock in "Bad Company"
2003 Appeared in the "Human Stain" which starred Nicole Kidman and Anthony Hopkins
2004 Cast in a recurring role as Chelina Hall, a new associate at the law firm of Crane, Poole & Schmidt on ABC's "Boston Legal"
2004 Portrayed Della Charles in "Ray" based on the extraordinary life story of Ray Charles
2004 Starred in the Spike Lee comedy "She Hate Me"
2005 Cast as Alicia Masters in the "Fantastic Four" based on the Marvel comic book
2005 Cast opposite Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie in "Mr. and Mrs. Smith"
2006 Played Ugandan dictator Idi Amin's wife in "The Last King of Scotland"
2007 Cast in the superhero sequel "Fantastic Four: Rise of the Silver Surfer"
2007 Co-starred opposite Chris Rock in "I Think I Love My Wife"