Red Carpet: Kerry Washington
Tuesday, May 3, 2011 at 8:40PM Kerry Washington, Kerry Washington, Kerry Washington and Kerry Washington. Perhaps I should explain?
We haven't done a red carpet lineup in awhile and there were a ton of glitzy events this past week. The true marvel was that Kerry Washington went to all of them, from left to right: The Time 100 Gala (Friday, NYC), Washington Correspondents Dinner (Saturday, DC), Mary J Blige Honors Concert (Monday, NYC) and the Costume Gala at the Met (also Monday, NYC). Maybe we'll look at a few more dresses tomorrow -- the Met Gala is annual awesomesauce -- but tonight let us marvel at Kerry's stamina in stilettos. Is this, like, her full time job now?
Someone please hire her for a meaty role / major movie. FACT: In the afterlife all Hollywood power brokers who held great actresses back from the careers they were meant to have will answer for those sins.
Remember when Kerry had that blink and you'll miss her part as blind Alicia in Fantastic Four? Maybe she should have played Multiple Man Jamie Maddox in the X-Men movies instead? She goes to everything!* Note how in one single week she doesn't wear the same color or hairstyle once and even switches it up hourly if there are two events. Note that on Saturday she went to the Pre-Party in for the Washington Correspondents Dinner with loose curls and leopard print top (left with Rosario Dawson -- I couldn't find a full body shot for the lineup, damnit) and then -- moments later? -- she's working a tight braided bun with an Asian influenced gown.
Four red carpet wins in five nights = too much time on her hands. BACK TO WORK WITH HER HOLLYWOOD. Get on that. Force her to stay home a couple of nights, blistering her fingers with all the page turning from that stack of scripts you've just sent her.
What kind or role would you love to see Kerry tackle?
*Nathaniel promises that he does not stalk Kerry Washington. Unless stalking includes Google Alerts in which case... guilty!
Kerry Washington, Red Carpet Lineup
Reader Comments (13)
I must admit that I never gave her that much attention until I saw "Mother and Child"...and WOW, did she blow me away in that! (The whole movie moved me very, very deeply) Ever since then I've been hoping to see her in something powerful where she can show emotion..Not sure exactly what, but something meaty!
She was so good in Mother and Child, that scene in the hospital slayed me. She needs a movie/release date that really gets her on the map.
Leehee -- i really didn't care for the movie but she is excellent in "Dead Girl" in a pretty interesting role. And of course her debut "Our Song" is just so beautifully natural.
You love her. (Me too.)
The only reason I went to see For Colored Girls was because of Kerry Washington. It was awful... but she was amazing in Mother and Child. Hopefully she'll get something great soon!
Nathaniel, you'll be able to see her every week when ABC picks up the TV show Shonda Rhimes created.
But while she's waiting for that show to get picked up she should look for a new stylist. Honestly, she looks horrible at each of these events.
I heard about the Shonda Rhimes pilot that Kerry's starring in and I'm conflicted. I want her to have the profile she deserves, but man do I not want her to become a "television actress." It's so hard to get out of that and make good work in film once you become TV famous.
And re: Shonda Rhimes, I liken her very much to Tyler Perry in that it's commendable that a person of color seems to have that much power behind the scenes. But at the same time, I'm disappointed because both her and Perry have very...um...let's just say interesting ideas about how to portray minorities, specifically black people. It's so funny to hear Shonda Rhimes talk about how she wrote the "Grey's Anatomy" characters race blind and Dr. Bailey was supposed to be a Jewish woman, when that character is such a black mammy stereotype. Anyway, rant over.
Loved her in Mother and Child too!
She needs meaty roles and a new stylist
Though I can't begrudge any working actor for wanting a steady paycheck, the last place I would want to see Washington is as a TV series regular, especially a Shonda Rhimes vehicle. Clearly, television is a medium in which a black actress has greater potential to thrive; it is in film, however, where they need much more of a boost, an opportunity to show they are just as viable and capable as any white counterpart.
Having said that, I liked "Mother and Child" just fine, and her in it, but the movie really made me want to see more of Shareeka Epps.
If the rumor is true that she is fluent in French...then she should think about seeing what's out there in Europe. She would probably find better opportunities as an actress of color who also has a bit of international name recognition than most.
The awful truth is that Hollywood still can't handle black female movie stars. Everybody wants to cite Halle Berry, but her peak years didn't prove nearly as fruitful as they should have. One could argue this was because of her own choices, but what choices did she have? Where was her Under the Tuscan Sun? Or her Mr. and Mrs. Smith? Or her Eat, Pray, Love? Decent, well-written starring roles that she could have killed in. Again, I have no idea what choices have come her way, but I have a hard time believing she's getting the same offers as Angelina, Julia, Sandra, Reese or any of the other A-list actresses. Plus, she's over 40 now, so her career is practically over. Time to go to television.
Rosario Dawson was also supposed to be the breakthrough. As well as Thandie Newton, Kerry Washington, etc., etc.. So until we get our A-list black actress, I guess we'll settle for great work in smaller roles and television. Maybe this isn't a bad thing...
I like Kerry fine, but who I would really like to see get her official big break is none other than the woman in the picture with her--Rosario Dawson...I've always thought Dawson had some major talent, but she's always been just on the cusp of breaking through. It pains me that the next film she will be starring in is a Kevin James film (SHOOT me!)
And by the way, Kerry Washington is a beautiful woman but I must agree she needs a new stylist ASAP...none of those looks are working for her, especially the second one. Disaster.
If the rumor is true that she is fluent in French...then she should think about seeing what's out there in Europe. She would probably find better opportunities as an actress of color who also has a bit of international name recognition than most.
Yes I agree for women of all colors in Hollywood who are no longer given the chances their male counterparts have.