Kerry Washington is best known for her lady-boss character on the hit ABC drama Scandal. On the show, written and produced by Shonda Rhimes, Washington plays high-powered political crisis manager Olivia Pope.
But before landing her leading role on Scandal, Washington says she was dismissed from and recast in two pilots that later went on to become series. The reason? She explains in an upcoming episode of Variety’s Actors on Actors that she was fired because she didn’t sound “hood” or “urban” enough.
Her co-host in the episode, Master of None creator and actor Aziz Ansari echoes her sentiments. He says that almost every non-white, non-hetero actor in Hollywood has likely had the experience of being asked by a casting director, “’Hey, can you speak a little bit more like how I think people that look like you speak?’”
The problem, he says, is that “you end up with other people’s perception of what certain people are like,” and the result is an on-screen production that not only lacks authenticity but is also insulting to the actors and actresses involved.
Both Washington and Ansari are known for speaking up about the absence of diversity in Hollywood, which is not at all limited to ethnicity. Washington mentions that friends of hers in the business often complain about “gayface.” “It’s the gay version of blackface,” she says. They’re told to “come in and be more effeminate.”
Washington says that, with her new role, things are changing. She explains, “I definitely feel like I’m at that point where it’s nice to not have to sit at home and wait to be invited to the party but to be creating work for yourself.” Ansari adds, inspiringly: “You can’t wait for anyone to open doors for you.” You just have to go out and grab your opportunity, like these two have.