Thicker than water : a memoir /

Enhanced descriptions from Syndetics:

Award-winning actor, director, producer, and activist Kerry Washington shares the deeply moving journey of her life so far, and the "beautiful" story of discovering her truth in this instant New York Times bestseller (Oprah Winfrey).



While on a drive in Los Angeles, on a seemingly average afternoon, Kerry Washington received a text message that would send her on a life-changing journey of self-discovery. In an instant, her very identity was torn apart, with everything she thought she knew about herself thrown into question.



In Thicker than Water , Washington gives readers an intimate view into both her public and private worlds--as a mother, daughter, wife, artist, advocate, and trailblazer. Chronicling her upbringing and life's journey thus far, she reveals how she faced a series of challenges and setbacks, effectively hid childhood traumas, met extraordinary mentors, managed to grow her career, and crossed the threshold into stardom and political advocacy, ultimately discovering her truest self and, with it, a deeper sense of belonging.



Throughout this profoundly moving and beautifully written memoir, Washington attempts to answer the questions so many have struggled with: Who am I? What is my truest and most authentic self? How do I find a deeper sense of connection and belonging? With grace and honesty, she inspires readers to search for--and find--themselves.

Reviews provided by Syndetics

Kirkus Book Review

The star of Scandal shares her life story. Most people know Washington (b. 1977) from her role as Washington, D.C., "fixer" Olivia Pope in Scandal, the series that launched thousands of provocative tweets and even a fashion line. But the author wasn't new to Hollywood or drama by the time she was cast in the role that would make her a household name. Washington begins her memoir with an explosive cliffhanger, letting the central question hover just below the surface until she's ready to revisit it near the end of the text. Washington was an only child who loved her parents and her apartment complex's swimming pool. Unlike at the pool, however, where she felt the most freedom, the time she spent with her parents was often strained. She strove for success in all endeavors and usually found it, yet she felt she was never as connected as she wanted to be to her parents. This lack of connection is especially evident in her response to the "sexual trauma that had remained a secret for far too long." Washington confronted the perpetrator, but she wanted to protect her parents and never told them. Acting proved to be the perfect vocation for her. Throughout high school and college, Washington diligently honed her natural talent for the stage and screen. As an adult swept up in the Obama campaign, she discovered a deeper purpose and identity. "This is when the connection between art and social change became crystal clear to me," she writes. "I started to understand the power of representation, the need for people to see themselves in the content they consume, but also the power of content to change how they think and feel and behave." Well paced and artfully crafted, Washington's memoir reminds us of the volumes we all carry but seldom speak. Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.

Author notes provided by Syndetics

Kerry Washington is an Emmy-winning, SAG, and Golden Globe-nominated actor, director, producer, and organizer. A native of The Bronx, New York, Washington is a versatile and fearless multi-hyphenate, and has received high acclaim for her work in film, television, theater, digital media, advocacy, and beyond. Washington received widespread public recognition for her role as Olivia Pope on the hit ABC drama Scandal , breaking barriers as the first Black woman since 1974 to headline a network TV drama. Washington's film credits include Django Unchained , Ray , The Last King of Scotland , Save the Last Dance , Our Song , and The School for Good and Evil , among many others. In 2016, she launched her production company, Simpson Street. A lifelong advocate and activist, Washington is dedicated to using her voice to fight for justice. Washington has been honored as one of Time magazine's 2022 Women of the Year, in addition to appearing on the magazine's Most Influential People list in 2014. She also received the 2013 NAACP President's Award, the 2015 GLAAD Media Vanguard Award, and the 2016 ACLU Bill of Rights Award. In 2022, Washington partnered with LAUSD and others to launch The Roybal School of Film and Television Production, a magnet school aiming to drive transformational change across the entertainment industry for students from underserved communities.