Kerry Washington is booked, busy and still giving us that fabulous Hollywood leading-lady energy! The gorgeous actress stopped by Jimmy Kimmel Live! for a fun-filled conversation about everything from her latest projects to some hilarious behind-the-scenes memories from her early acting days. And honey, she had plenty of stories to tell!
Between discussing the sweltering Los Angeles heat, cheering on her former co-stars on Dancing With the Stars, and reminiscing about partying until the wee hours while filming Save the Last Dance, Kerry reminded us why she’s always such a delight to watch.
And let’s not forget her new thriller, Animals, alongside Ben Affleck. From the sound of things, this movie is going to have viewers sitting on the edge of their seats!
Kerry Washington Is Team Guillermo and Julia Stiles on DWTS!
Kerry has a couple of familiar faces competing on Season 35 of Dancing With the Stars, and she’s showing them both some love!
First up is Julia Stiles, her former co-star from the beloved 2001 dance film Save the Last Dance. The two have remained friends over the years, so naturally, Kerry is rooting for her.
But here’s where things got funny!
Kerry also has a connection to Guillermo Rodriguez, Jimmy Kimmel’s lovable sidekick, who appeared alongside her in several hilarious Scandal-inspired comedy sketches.
Jimmy jokingly argued that Kerry had actually worked with Guillermo more than she had with Julia, which made for some playful back-and-forth.
Kerry insisted she was supporting both contestants, and I love that! There’s nothing like seeing Hollywood friends cheering each other on.
And speaking of Save the Last Dance, Kerry shared some memories that had me cracking up!
Save the Last Dance Cast Used to Party Until 3 A.M.!
Now, this is a behind-the-scenes story I wasn’t expecting!
Kerry revealed that while filming Save the Last Dance, the cast actually went clubbing together as part of their dance preparation.
Yes, you read that correctly. Clubbing was practically part of the job description!
According to Kerry, the film’s choreographer would take her, Julia Stiles, Sean Patrick Thomas and other cast members out dancing until around 3 a.m.
And get this: They sometimes had to report to set as early as 6 a.m.!
Baby, I don’t know how they did it! I’m tired just thinking about it. Lol!
Kerry explained that the late-night outings helped everyone get comfortable with the club atmosphere and dance scenes featured in the movie.
She also reflected on how Save the Last Dance became her first major studio film and helped launch her Hollywood career.
One of my favorite stories was Kerry remembering how she saved her daily meal allowance while filming in Chicago. Instead of spending money on food, she would pack leftovers from set and stash away her cash.
By the time filming wrapped, she had saved enough to purchase her very first laptop!
Now that’s what I call being young, talented and financially savvy!
Kerry Washington Is Bringing the Drama in Animals With Ben Affleck!
Kerry also discussed her new thriller, Animals, starring alongside Ben Affleck and Steven Yeun.
The suspenseful film follows a political family facing a terrifying crisis when a child is kidnapped. Ben plays a man running for mayor of Los Angeles, and the story promises plenty of betrayal, secrets and unexpected twists.
During the interview, Jimmy shared an intense clip featuring Kerry’s character demanding that millions of dollars be made available to help save her son.
And let me tell you, Kerry was not playing around in that scene!
She joked that the television-friendly version of the clip had toned down some of her character’s colorful language.
Kerry described the performance as tapping into her protective mama-bear instincts, and apparently, she and Ben have several heated confrontations throughout the movie.
She also had wonderful things to say about Ben’s work as a director, although she jokingly pretended she didn’t want him hearing all those compliments!
Kerry encouraged audiences to experience Animals in a movie theater if possible because of the excitement of watching a suspenseful thriller with a crowd.
For those who prefer a cozy movie night at home, the film is also scheduled to arrive on Netflix.
Reasonable Doubt, Imperfect Women and More!
Kerry isn’t slowing down anytime soon!
She also celebrated the fourth season of Hulu’s Reasonable Doubt, a series she executive produces.
During the conversation, she gave a special shoutout to showrunner Ramla Mohamed, whose career includes working on Scandal and Little Fires Everywhere.
I always love hearing about women in Hollywood continuing to create opportunities and support one another behind the scenes!
Kerry also discussed Imperfect Women on Apple TV and how enthusiastic fans have helped keep the conversation around the series going.
It’s wonderful seeing her continue to expand her creative footprint, both in front of the camera and as a producer.
Her Podcast Is All About the Places That Shape Us!
Another project close to Kerry’s heart is her podcast, Street You Grew Up On.
The concept originally began as a YouTube series during the pandemic and explores the neighborhoods, childhood memories and experiences that helped shape some of our favorite personalities.
Even the title has a personal connection. Kerry’s production company, Simpson Street, was named after the street where her mother grew up.
How sweet is that?
Ben Affleck joined Kerry for the season’s first episode, and naturally, their conversation included plenty of stories about his longtime friendship with Matt Damon.
Kerry also shared that upcoming podcast guests include Demi Lovato, Billy Porter and her former Scandal co-star Katie Lowes.
And speaking of Scandal, the cast apparently remains incredibly close!
Kerry revealed that they still celebrate each other’s milestones, birthdays, career achievements and family news. She even recalled getting emotional during a backstage reunion with Scott Foley.
I absolutely love hearing that because Scandal was such an iconic television series, and it’s nice knowing those friendships continued long after the cameras stopped rolling.
My Final Thoughts!
What I enjoy most about Kerry Washington is how effortlessly she balances elegance, humor and intelligence.
She can give us a powerful dramatic performance one minute and have us laughing about her early Hollywood adventures the next!
And can we talk about how fabulous it is to see her continuing to build such a diverse career? Between acting, producing and podcasting, Kerry is definitely making moves!
I also loved hearing her Save the Last Dance memories. That movie was such a moment in early-2000s pop culture, and finding out the cast was really hitting the clubs together makes me want to go back and watch it all over again!
As for Animals, I’m always up for a good thriller filled with twists, secrets and a little Hollywood drama.
Are you excited to see Kerry Washington and Ben Affleck in Animals? And who else remembers watching Save the Last Dance back in the day?
(Disney/Randy Holmes)
