In her new book, “Thicker Than Water,” acclaimed actress Kerry Washington, well known for her part in the critically acclaimed television series “Scandal,” will reveal previously hidden aspects of her life. During a fascinating interview, she admitted that her father, Earl Washington, is not her actual dad. Rather, her mother and her real father are her parents. This insight has sparked the beginning of a significant journey of adulthood spent discovering oneself.
The actress revealed this information in an interview that was conducted exclusively for the publication People. Her parents had protected the identity of her biological father for many years. Nevertheless, the bombshell was only brought to light in 2018, when Kerry, who was 41 years old at the time, opted to take part in “Finding Your Roots,” a PBS series in which celebrities investigate their familial past via the use of DNA testing.
Earl and the actress’ mom, Valerie, sought advice from the show’s presenter, Henry Louis Gates Jr., who suggested that they tell Kerry the truth before they began shooting the scene in question. Kerry recalls keeping her cool as she asked several questions at the family meeting that was forced as a result of the disclosure. She recognized the difficulties of the situation for both of her parents as well as herself.
Kerry was shocked to learn that her parents had used the services of an unknown sperm donor in order to conceive her since they had so much trouble becoming pregnant. However, they had vowed to keep this a secret from her. However, now that she knew the truth, everything made perfect sense to her, which is particularly significant given that she had always had the impression that there was a “missing puzzle piece” in her life.
Kerry is the only child of her parents, Earl, who is a real estate broker, and Valerie, who is a schoolteacher. She was born in January 1977 in the Bronx. According to USA Today, Kerry grew up with an idealistic picture of perfection due to the fact that she was raised in a household that always “colored inside the lines” and never disobeyed the rules. At such a young age, she said that she struggled with feelings of worry over her ability to live up to her parents’ expectations and that she yearned for a real relationship.
Kerry said that the information had “really turned my world upside down,” yet he also acknowledged that there was a feeling of relief associated with the discovery. “When I found out about this, my first reaction was, ‘Oh. I am now aware of what happened. I was only a supporting role in their tale, but I didn’t even know what my own story was about.
Kerry focused on the fact that this hidden reality may have been a factor in her earlier challenges with mental health throughout her adolescence, arguing that these difficulties may have been manifestations of her subconscious knowledge of her parents’ secret. Kerry’s thoughts were prompted by the fact that her parents had kept this information from her.
The actor, feeling empowered by this newfound information, made the decision to tell her real tale to the rest of the world, which resulted in the production of the film “Thicker Than Water.” She places a lot of emphasis on the fact that the book is a representation of her struggle to comprehend her life in light of this significant discovery. Writing out her narrative served as an instrument for her to use in her journey toward recovery.
“My parents were not thrilled about me writing this,” Kerry said in her confession. “In a lot of ways, this is a novel about myself. I now have the opportunity to take on the role of the most significant person in my life.
Her bond with her parents was strengthened as a result of the process of processing the missing parts, and she developed “so much more love, compassion, and understanding” for Earl and Valerie as a result of this growth.
In addition to revealing the identity of Kerry’s biological father, the book that she wrote in 2023 also unearthed other family mysteries, including those pertaining to her grandparents as well as her parents’ hopes, disagreements, and responsibilities. One of the revelations included her father’s participation in an Internal Revenue Service investigation into tax fraud, drug traffickers, and real estate. Even though it made her uncomfortable, she decided to write a letter to the court in an attempt to help her parents’ case. She did this despite the fact that she believed her parents’ counsel was more knowledgeable about them than she was.
The documentary “Thicker Than Water” also provides an in-depth look at the artist’s professional life, including her advocacy work, entrepreneurial endeavors, parenthood, and daughterhood, as well as her identity as a Black woman.