Kerry Washington Shares Insights on Discovering Her Biological Father
Kerry Washington’s realization that her father wasn’t her biological dad marked a significant moment in her life.
“The timing couldn’t have been better, right? It was unexpected,” Washington, 48, shared with InStyle in an interview released on Monday, September 8, explaining that she “stumbled” upon the truth.
“When I reflect on how beautifully things can unfold when we’re fortunate, I was at such a critical juncture in my life,” she continued. “I was ready to redefine myself, my desires, and my direction.”
Washington had just completed her six-year role as Olivia Pope on ABC’s Scandal in 2018 when she discovered her conception had involved a sperm donor.
“My mom mentioned that the shift in our family was that we became less scared of hurting each other,” Washington recalled. “That was profoundly impactful because it speaks to the inevitable heartache that love can bring.”
The actress remarked that the “journey” she’s gone through with her family has indeed transformed them. Washington noted that it “has encouraged us all to be more courageous in embracing our true selves and standing in our authenticity with love and compassion.”
Washington first disclosed that her father wasn’t her biological dad in her 2023 memoir, Thicker Than Water. After she planned to appear on Finding Your Roots, a show that explores celebrity family histories through DNA testing, her parents, Earl and Valerie Washington, revealed the truth.
“My parents told me that my dad is not my biological father and that I was conceived via a sperm donor,” she recalled during a 2023 Today show appearance. “It was shocking, but it also felt oddly familiar—like a confirmation.”
Kerry mentioned that she was contemplating her future—this discovery opened a new avenue for her.
“It felt like, ‘What a fantastic opportunity to learn more about who I am, who I aspire to be, and to also make sense of my life,’” she added.
Washington clarified that this revelation didn’t alter her relationship with her dad.
“To my dad, I am his, and he is mine; there’s no need to acknowledge any other truth,” she expressed on the “On Purpose” podcast in 2023. “He is my dad, and he will always be my dad.”
