Kerry Washington shows her love and gratitude to her friend, Tyler Perry.
During a recent interview, the actress revealed that she was done with acting until the media mogul cast her in the 2010 film, For Colored Girls. She explained the importance of giving Perry his props during her acceptance speech after winning Outstanding Actress in a Motion Picture last month.
“I think because Tyler’s been such a support for me throughout my career,” she said. “At a time earlier in my career where I was like, ‘I’m done acting. I don’t think I want to do this anymore,’ he called me to be in For Colored Girls”- a film the actress called “beautiful” which also starred Janet Jackson, Phylicia Rashad, and Whoopi Goldberg.
She continued, “He’s been there for me even when I’ve struggled in my career with paparazzi and fame, he’s provided safe spaces for me. He’s a confidant, he’s an adviser, he’s a real friend.” In another interview, she talked about being at the peak of her career, being on Broadway before For Colored Girls.
“I was doing a play on Broadway—and I loved the stage, and I loved this experience—but I was like, ‘This is it,’” she told the outlet. “Growing up in New York, my dream [was] to be on Broadway. [I thought] ‘I’m here.’ This is the mic drop moment when I now pivot and transition to something else.”
Since then, Kerry Washington has recently starred in another Tyler Perry film, The Six Triple Eight.