Actress Kerry Washington had tongues wagging when she and Lucky magazine’s editor-in-chief shared her cover photo on Twitter. With bone straight hair and overuse of Photoshop, Washington was nearly unrecognizable. As talk of the new look faded away, highlights from the interview were released and reminded fans why they love Washington in the first place.
On working in Hollywood:
“It’s a miracle to even work in this industry. I didn’t become an actress to be on the cover of magazines. That was always a little scary to me. What I love about acting is the craft of becoming different people and telling a story.”
On the dangers of the media:
“Even for me, I think it’s a real danger to compare yourself to someone on a television show. I know that I am not going to look like [Scandal character] Olivia when I wake up and go to the bathroom at 4 o’clock in the morning. On the set, it’s somebody’s job to follow me around all day with spackle.”
On Olivia’s Sense Of Fashion:
“People always come up to me and say, ‘Oh, I want Olivia’s closet,’ and I’m like, ‘Me too!’ … There are shows where every time you see the character she’s in a different piece, and it’s like a fashion event…I didn’t want that. I wanted Olivia to be a real person. We will always buy new pieces, but on every episode we try to use at least one piece that you’ve seen before, whether it’s a suit jacket or pants or a pair of shoes.”
On her day-day style:
“I can run into Madewell and J.Crew and be good for a few months. I’m not a formal person. I have a lot of jeans. And I have tons of sneakers, whether they’re the custom Nikes that you can make online or the Isabel Marant wedges. That’s the Bronx in me, for sure.”
On wearing her wedding ring from hubby Nnamdi Asomugha:
“I never wanted to have a ring that I would feel uncomfortable riding the subway with. My wedding band and engagement ring are the only things I can say that I wear every day, I pin them to my clothing on set. That way, I always have them with me.”
On cooking for the holidays:
“My mother’s birthday is close to Christmas, and I like to cook around the holidays. It’s really a special time. I’m usually in charge of the veggies—I have a brussels sprouts dish that I make. And my mom and I bake this Jamaican rum cake together.”