Posted on September 08, 2025

Kerry Washington graces the cover of INSTYLE’s September issue, opening up about stepping into a new chapter of artistry and purpose. She reflects on how activism grounds her, why school drop-off is her proudest role, and how uncovering family truths gave her the courage to live authentically, all while balancing her political voice, parenting, and work on screen. 

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On activism, speaking at the DNC, and how doing nothing often makes her feel more scared: 

“I started marching and protesting because I understood the importance of freedom of speech and creative freedom. Politics was not this mystical, mythical creature that lived on a hill. Politics had to do with everyday decisions.”

“I think when I was making the decision [to host a night at] the Democratic National Convention last year, it just felt like too important of a moment to not try to have a positive impact. When I’m feeling most scared, doing nothing often just makes me more scared.

I go through periods where I’m more comfortable activating behind the scenes and then periods where I’m more comfortable in front. Movements need not only people who make speeches. Movements need people who babysit, who drive people to events, and who paint posters. [It’s about] figuring out what is the area that you care about and what are the talents you can lend?”

On prioritizing her kids in this season of life, including being at drop-off and pick-up: 

“In this season [of my life], it’s more important for me to be at drop-off and pick-up. It’s a real privilege. I remember reading somewhere about interviewing people in hospice. Most people don’t say, ‘I wish I had worked more.’ Most people say, ‘I wish I had spent more time with my husband’ or ‘I wish I had spent more time with my kids’ or ‘I wish I had traveled more’ or ‘I wish I had done the creative thing that I was scared to do.’”

“I want to be ambitious for things other than professional success: Ambitious for my kids, ambitious for my marriage, ambitious for life. Work is a big part of my life—I’m not retiring, I’m not walking away—but I’m ambitious about living a full life.”

On keeping her personal life private from social media and public life, including her husband and children: 

“It was very hard at the beginning. I’d look at a picture of my kid and send it to my mother: ‘This picture has to be in the world, but I don’t want to post it!’ When [my kids] started going to school and I knew I couldn’t protect them every moment of the day, it was scary. But it’s okay. My 11-year-old was with me at the Beyoncé concert this weekend…but I’m not posting images of her. Our kids get to be who they are, not who the world has decided they are.

Which is really actually similar to my husband and me. We live our lives and we are in the public eye, but we are still fairly private. Almost two years ago, we were at a couture show in Italy, and the house crew took a picture of us. I said to him, “This picture is so beautiful. I want to post this picture.” And he was like, “Really?” We had been married 10 years and never posted a picture of ourselves together. [Laughs] We are both the kind of actors who are often trying to tell as much truth as possible behind the mask of the character. I feel like we are more protective of our real truth. That’s not for public consumption.”

On finding out that her dad is not her biological father shortly after Scandal wrapped: 

“When I got this information, this little bit of freedom got planted in my heart. I felt really emboldened. There was a security that came from knowing my full truth that empowered me to be more courageous about taking on characters and stories. I’ve gotten more permission to play.”

“My mom said she felt like the thing that had changed in our family was that we were less afraid to hurt one another. That was so powerful and profound because it speaks to the inevitable heartache that comes with love. This journey that we’ve been on for the past few years has really made us all more courageous about being who we really are and standing in our truth with lots of love and compassion.”

On how an unnamed actor inspired Kerry to embrace her personal style: 

“[Earlier] in my career, there was this project that I really loved and it went to another actor. I knew that part of why she got it was she was more of a red carpet ‘It Girl.’ I was asleep at the wheel of my own marketing. I thought if you’re just a good actor, you’ll get the roles. But it turns out, no, you also have to market yourself because, again, you are your instrument. You are walking around in the car you’re trying to sell. It should be shiny and waxed.”

On Knives Out and how the cast had a communal dressing room: 

“I’m such a huge fan of the franchise. Huge. I could tell watching [the first two] that the experience of making these movies was such a joy, [it] reminded me of the comradery of the Scandal fam.”

“We all had trailers, but we spent very little time at our trailers. Daniel Craig, who was a phenomenal Number One [on the call sheet], created this green room on set. There were board games and tea and snacks and comfy couches. Most of the time, nobody wanted to be in their trailer. We were always in the green room helping each other, playing trivia games, and trying to read but never reading because we were just chatting and making fun of each other.”

On working with Ben Affleck for Animals: 

“I knew him in a Hollywood-casual way. A lot of [Animals] takes place in our house. And I was like: ‘You are so tall!’ He’s really tall, but he never seemed tall to me. Anytime I had ever been in a room with him, I was in heels at some fancy event. All of a sudden, I was six inches shorter than I normally am with him.”