Kerry Washington says she spent “a lifetime trying not to be an actor” but then “extraordinary” scripts land on her desk

Kerry Washington reflects on times in her life when she felt like she might be done with Hollywood, only to be pulled back in by an “extraordinary” script.

In a profile for W magazine‘s W TV Portfolio 2023, Washington admitted that she spent her life try not to be an actor.

“I always quit this business, and when I decide I’m done, something extraordinary comes to my desk,” she shared W. “I was really, really done with this business right before I read the script Ray. I was really, really done with this business right before I read the script The last king of Scotland. I was all done with this case before I read the script Scandal. This happens over and over.”

W’This year’s portfolio also included Matthew Macfadyen, Sheryl Lee Ralph, Meghann Fahy and more of the biggest TV stars of 2023.

In his profile, Macfadyen shared a few things about Successionnoting that when he first heard his character’s name, Tom Wambsgans, he felt it was the clue to everything in the series.

“It’s a weird, hard-to-mouth name,” said the Emmy winner. “It sounds like ‘uterus’ and ‘glands’ mixed up. It’s strange and not quite right. And he’s sort of an intruder in a family called Roy, which has its roots in the French word for ‘king.’

The actor added that his favorite quote from Tom is probably “Buckle up, fucklehead,” and admitted that it’s “weird” that people are probably in awe of him when they see him on the street now.

“Sometimes they do a double take, and then they look at me and start laughing at me because of Tom,” he said. “It’s coming from a good place, but it’s a little bumpy at times.”

Fahy, who plays Daphne Sullivan The White Lotus season twoopened up about how she and co-star Aubrey Plaza coined the term “Zen Mommy” for her character.

“She’s one of those women you see on Instagram who always has a baby on her hip and wears this effortlessly flowy, beautiful dress that probably cost her $4,000,” said Fahy. “Everything seems simple, and Daphne was that for me. She is my zen mama.”

The Emmy nominee also recalled being in awe when she met Taylor Swift and “almost throwing up” when she saw her across the room.

“I just started crying involuntarily. I was so embarrassed,” said the Tough type star said. “I thought, ‘I can’t say hello to her with tears in my eyes.’ I have to pretend I’m semi-normal, but I don’t think I fooled her. She put her arm around me and she said, ‘I’m fine.'”