Kerry Washington is one of those stars we all think we're friends with. Somehow, the Emmy- and Golden Globe-nominated actress has captivated our hearts — so much so that we unwittingly find ourselves rooting for her adulterous affair with the President of the United States season after season on Scandal. She also tricked us into falling in love with a commercial — albeit for Apple Music — dancing along with her, Mary J. Blige, and Taraji P. Henson. And of course, her character Olivia Pope has famously made "It's handled!" a catchphrase for everything from completing an assignment to ordering delivery pizza.
Kerry's success is testament to her talent, for sure, but also her work ethic. We've written countless pieces about how Hollywood is a place in dire need of diversity, and Kerry's been defying the cookie cutter mold of the industry since the early aughts. Last year, she also received the GLAAD Vanguard Award for being an outspoken ally to the LGBT community, and now, she's a member of V-Day, a movement that brings awareness to end violence against women and girls.
But it doesn't stop there. We got the chance to sit down with Kerry because of her work with Neutrogena's "See What's Possible" Campaign that inspires women to chase their dreams. The brand (of which Kerry is a face) is partnering with Girls, Inc. to develop life skills for over 250,000 young women over the next decade. In the video above, we asked Kerry to talk to her 18-year-old self...the actress before Save the Last Dance and Scandal, pre-best dressed lists and awards shows. Listen to the clip above to hear what she has to say.