SmartLess "RE-RELEASE: Kerry Washington"
Sep 11, 2025
Kerry Washington, the talented actor known for her role in Scandal and as a producer with Simpson Street, joins the conversation. She humorously addresses safer-sex education while sharing insights into the challenges black women face in leadership roles in the entertainment industry. The lighthearted banter includes culinary anecdotes and reflections on college experiences. Washington also discusses the unpredictability of filmmaking and the importance of representation, adding depth to the entertaining discussions among the hosts.
AI Snips
Chapters
Books
Transcript
Episode notes
Early Safer‑Sex Theater Training
- Kerry Washington performed in a traveling adolescent health theater group teaching safer-sex via sketches and audience Q&A.
- She learned improvisation, character backstory and how to keep an audience engaged by staying in character during post-show discussions.
The Misplaced Fan Email Prank
- Sean Hayes recounts emailing Kerry Washington and then accidentally calling her from a Kimmel producer's phone, creating a classic misunderstanding.
- Kerry thought she was being punked until Sean clarified the mistaken-number mixup, and both laughed about it afterward.
Performance Informs Character Work
- Kerry designed an interdisciplinary undergraduate major in performance studies to study how performance functions in societies and cultures.
- She uses social-science frameworks to shape character motivations and how societal forces influence behavior.
