Kerry Washington COVERS "ESSENCE" March 2012, Says It's A Great Time To Be A Black Actress

Feb 01 | by _YBF

ABC's "Scandal" star Kerry Washington covers the March 2012 issue of ESSENCE Magazine where she dishes on what it's like to be a black actress in Hollywood. Get the deets inside.....

Kerry Washington, who will be honored at ESSENCE Magazine's "Black Women In Hollywood" luncheon this month, covers the latest issue of the magazine. Inside, she dishes on being a Black actress in Hollywood and how things are changing.

She said,

“I think it’s a really special time to be a woman of color in this business. The landscape of who has the power is changing. We are in more influential positions and are able to have a say in the stories that are told. I feel very lucky to be in the business now…”

And Kerry's also making history. As the star of SHonda Rhimes' upcoming drama "Scandal," Kerry will become the only Black actress to lead a drama based on a real-life black woman, high-profile crisis management adviser Judy Smith.

Loves it. Congrats Kerry!

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by Anonymous
8:03 am - Feb 3, '12

droopy boobs

by Anonymous
11:33 am - Feb 2, '12

IKR! one is HUGE and one is

IKR! one is HUGE and one is flat as a pancake?! How the hell was that not spotted, or is it bad photoshop!?

by The realest
4:31 pm - Feb 2, '12

She's a good actress but that

She's a good actress but that just it.. Good.. All respect to her tho for doing what she loves and getting paid for it www.propertyporner.blogspot.com

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by vickli02
8:12 pm - Feb 1, '12

she look like she is wearing

she look like she is wearing one of those guards fat people can wear inside her dress to push her meat in. its very likely. it means she is fake, just like obama is. romney 2012!!!

by Anonymous
3:59 pm - Feb 1, '12

I don't think Kerry is

I don't think Kerry is ignoring the plight of black actresses in Hollywood but the creator of her show is a black woman so that what she means by there being more diversity in the people who are in control.

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3:13 pm - Feb 1, '12

I think the cover looks crazy

I think the cover looks crazy because they photoshopped her to look a little bigger than what she really is. This is really really skinny and they tried to put some meat on her bones...That's what happened to her "titty".

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by Anonymous
1:54 pm - Feb 1, '12

what happened to kerry's

what happened to kerry's right tittay. hope they fix this mess before they put it on my news stand

by Anonymous
1:30 pm - Feb 1, '12

LMFAO

by BlackBerry
2:44 pm - Feb 1, '12

IMO, she's right, black

IMO, she's right, black actresses are being cast more and in non-traditional roles. TV is no longer waiting until there is a Ghetto story to cast black actresses, now they are: 1. Local sheriffs - even in small towns 2. Bank Managers 3. Crime victims 4. Interracial wives and girlfriends 5. Bosses And much more than I can list here. We are always trying to look at the stars, but there are lots of actors/actresses who makes up a show's cast. I tend to count the black presence in shows and do not watch shows that don't have any blacks in the top ten cast. They don't have to be stars but they need to have some screen presence...so she's right it's far better now.

by Gymo
12:56 pm - Feb 1, '12

Kerry Washington is aware of

Kerry Washington is aware of the lack of diversity of Hollywood, especially for black women. However, in Hollywood you have to play the game. And that's what's she's doing. Every successful black celebrity, has reached a certain status in Hollywood, because they didn't or don't play the race card. Hollywood does not want to be reminded that they are the most racist segment in society. They want to see approachable, relatable minorities. Play the game=winning. Look at Michael Jackson, he was the biggest player in Hollywood. Oh, he faced racism and bigotry moreso than anyone in Hollywood, because of his status, but did he complain and boo hoo about it,every second, no, he used Hollywood like they used him, get money , play the game, and get more money. that's winning. And in the background give your time and effort to charities to causes that matter ; i.e. education, health issues. why do you think President Obama is successful? because he doesnot play the race card.

by Bohwe
12:55 pm - Feb 1, '12

@ Bohwe I agree 100% with

@ Bohwe I agree 100% with you that she is aware and "playing" the game. But let's be real. Kerry Washington is not Zoe Saldana. Zoe get's way more major roles and in a wider sense than any woman of color that I could name save Halle Berry. I think it would be helpful for Kerry to speak about race in a more nuanced way or she could speak about this issue in the sense of limited opportunities of faith. But if you look at gender for example it's not as compelling because there are woman who do get diversity in terms of roles. I think we need to be honest when speaking about Hollywood because things that happen there are far more pronounced. Kerry Washington is not Michael Jackson (or Angela Bassett). Michael Jackson surpassed race issues because of his TALENT. In Hollywood talent alone will not move you one way or the others. Zoe has had a lot of success but I'm not sure it's just because of her talent as an actress. I do think someone believed in her and gave her the opportunity. That person being James Cameron and also JJ Abrams. Playing the "GAME" does not mean winning. Being smart does make all the difference. But lying and saying all is great in Hollywood and accepting anything that comes your way like Kerry has may speak to why she is so middle of the road and not really advancing. This may prove why the she is on Essence's cover and not Vogue or Elle.

by Furious Styles
1:31 pm - Feb 1, '12

IMO, Zoe Saldana is an

IMO, Zoe Saldana is an exotically beautiful woman, and a good actress who has a strong screen presence, I have seen her on TV shows and she outshines her peers, so it wasn't James Cameron charity, it was perhaps just his color blindness. I can remember the show "guess who's coming for dinner" remake, and though I hated Aston Kutcher bad/horrible acting, I went to see Zoe Saldana, because I knew she was a good actor. Kerry Washington is a good actress but she doesn't have the Zoe Saldana range and presence, also, there are some black actors and actresses who are afraid of interracial roles because they don't want to be condemned by some in the black community and they then put in sub-par work. In addition to the above, there are many black actors and actresses who could use a lot more acting classes, they have no role expressions, no depth and no use of emotional inflection in using the language... There is a subtlety in acting that makes Denzel a great actor and Tyrese a mediocre actor.

by Gymo
2:01 pm - Feb 1, '12

Whoever approved this photo

Whoever approved this photo should be fired. I'm sure Kerry didn't intend to look like she has some kind of deformity of the boob.

by SweetDivaT
12:35 pm - Feb 1, '12

According to most black women

According to most black women it's difficult to get a buzz in hollywood when you're black but Kerry thinks otherwise. She thinks it's better than ever. Interesting, so that means no more complaining. Black women are doing big.

by Anonymous
12:20 pm - Feb 1, '12

She looks perfect with big

She looks perfect with big Juggs *Jerks-Off twice then orders Hot Wings*

by Road Dog™
12:10 pm - Feb 1, '12

Typical Wednesday afternoon,

Typical Wednesday afternoon, eh?

by Anonymous
5:21 pm - Feb 1, '12

Airbrushed pic. I like Kerry

Airbrushed pic. I like Kerry but she doesn't have big breasts.

by Anonymous
12:45 pm - Feb 1, '12

What is she talking about? Is

What is she talking about? Is SHE even working? *goes to imdb to check for 'in-prodction' and 'post-production' work* I'm just saying --every time is the right time to be a Black actress. It's not going to get better for black actors in general unless we start writing and directing our own work! Stop looking to white Hollywood to accept us. We should accept ourselves -no need to starve and get a damn nose job just to get a role in a movie. Ahem, Ms. Washington!

by la fresca
12:08 pm - Feb 1, '12

I'm a fan of Kerry

I'm a fan of Kerry Washington's-but this pic is horrible! Why is her boob hanging over and low like that? And her posture? Come on now Essence--everyone knows this chick is uber-petite. Get it together. SMH...

by Godiva-Diva...Re-elect Obama!!!
12:04 pm - Feb 1, '12

This cover is atrocious! And

This cover is atrocious! And not because Kerry isn't pretty but because this editorial team failed to enhance her beauty. The hair is WRONG! Makeup ... WRONG! Dress is ill-fitting and the color white washes her out. She looks 6 months pregnant. Someone should be FIRED! And I don't think it's a great "TIME" (please spell check your title YBF) to be black in Hollywood so what is she talking about? The only director consistently casting blacks is Tyler Perry and Shonda Rhimes is the only black executive behind multiple dramas on leading network like ABC! We still have MILES to go. It maybe great for HER because she's got a leading role on a primetime sitcom but we are FAR from breaking the glass ceiling. These type of statements will only make people complacent.

by Elle
12:01 pm - Feb 1, '12

Also, What is Kerry talking

Also, What is Kerry talking about it's a great time to be a Black Actress in Hollywood? I think comments like that are irresponsible, unrealistic and typical of people like Kerry Washington. I much rather she not even address race issues if she's not going to be honest about it. Kerry herself does not get the greatest roles and like so many other black actresses they are always playing the same types of roles. Hollywood needs to change and open up for women of color. I never see an African American actress with a great deal of acting range. Black actresses seem to be type casted as a group (hence why you see them in the same roles movie after movie) and to just make a comment like all is great and wonderful in Hollywood is what you would come to expect from Kerry and Essence. It would be great to have real journalism with Magazines like Essence. I would love to read something about why Hollywood keeps limiting Black actresses in terms of the roles they give them to play. Real stories and interviews that deal with pressing matters in both a career and relationships from an african american perspective. But all you really get are bad fashion stories, unrealistic relationships advice and images and pathetic interviews that don't tell you what you already don't know. Essence should be embarrassed! This cover is terrible but so are the cover lines and interviews. I don't support Essence and find better information in other magazines.

by Furious Styles
11:45 am - Feb 1, '12

I totally agree with you, she

I totally agree with you, she should not have expressed her own opinion, she should have checked in with you first. Kerry, this idea of your own personal experience is totally overblown,

by Gymo
12:43 pm - Feb 1, '12

@ GYMO Don't be smart. Sure

@ GYMO Don't be smart. Sure she can express her experience in Hollywood but let's look at that Career she speaks about. Kerry does not get that man roles in a YEAR. Kerry is not a BIG ACTRESS or even a household name to many in Hollywood. Kerry is more of a character actor but it's BIGGER than her. One of the things i LOVED about Halle Berry's acceptance speech for her Oscar was she said this award is BIGGER than me. There were may others before me who never got the recognition in Hollywood. Kerry needs to think deeper about her own experience and the experience of others like her. Women of color in Hollywood has a problem and that is a problem of the types of roles they get compared to other women. It's almost like Herman Cain expressing the view that some people look for problems in everything when it comes to race. That because he does not find race and issue others should feel the same way. I'm not a big person on race issue myself but I do know that my personal experience is not reflective of the whole. That while I may have some comfort others are having bigger problems. Race is hard to discuss but it's important to be honest when you do speak on it. Otherwise nothing will ever change.

by Furious Styles
1:01 pm - Feb 1, '12

Regarding kerry herself, I

Regarding kerry herself, I looked at her IMDB page and she has about the average of any mid-level white actress jobs in "Completed-Post-Production-Filming, three big movies and a TV show. Many White actresses don't have that many. Kerstin dunst has five. Emily Blunt has three Kerry Washington has four ---------- Always looking at stars is not the way to count, because not every body, white or black is star material, you look at the amount of blacks in a cast, that shows you if there are more black actors getting work....and I will bet you that Kerry is right after you have finished counting.

by Gymo
1:39 pm - Feb 1, '12

Essence must be a on a

Essence must be a on a budget. Their covers have been horrible! As pretty as Kerry is...this is unacceptable.

by Anonymous
11:33 am - Feb 1, '12

I agree I don't like her the

I agree I don't like her the cover either or who wearing all white...But kerry's eyes, lips curves look about right she's good to stare at that's for sure but the cover is all wrong they could have done better.

by ......
4:37 pm - Feb 1, '12

They messed up her forehead

They messed up her forehead 'cause there's no way it can be that big.

by Anonymous
11:31 am - Feb 1, '12

She looks beautiful, but this

She looks beautiful, but this should not have been the cover picture. The angle of the picture makes her right boob look like its hanging...just sayin

by Anonymous
11:27 am - Feb 1, '12

I want to like Essence but

I want to like Essence but these covers KILL ME! That FONT is horrible for a women's magazine. It's not feminine at all. That is number 1. The dress gives Kerry a strange shape especially around that one breast...she looks malformed. The necklace looks too costume and it looks like something my grandmother would wear. And the retouching is too much. Kerry's hair line and forehead look too BIG. And that hair style is too much. What is up with the eyebrows. She has that Michelle Obama thing going on with the brow... unattractive! WRONG on multiple levels. I just can't

by Furious Styles
11:23 am - Feb 1, '12