Kerry Washington

And luckily they weren't able to, they were kind of forced to tell me, to share this with me.

And it wound up being transformative for our family because it was the thing that they were most terrified to tell me because they thought that it would destroy our family, that I would be angry with them, that I would no longer see my dad as my dad, that it would fracture this kind of perfect facade, this image that we were portraying to the world.

And it wound up being transformative for our family because it was the thing that they were most terrified to tell me because they thought that it would destroy our family, that I would be angry with them, that I would no longer see my dad as my dad, that it would fracture this kind of perfect facade, this image that we were portraying to the world.

It, of course, as with most things in life, had the opposite impact. It was so healing for my family to sit in that truth and to have the courage to be honest with one another actually made me feel closer to my dad. It made me so grateful to my parents. I understood so many of the confusing dynamics of... Our household growing up, suddenly I understood.

It, of course, as with most things in life, had the opposite impact. It was so healing for my family to sit in that truth and to have the courage to be honest with one another actually made me feel closer to my dad. It made me so grateful to my parents. I understood so many of the confusing dynamics of... Our household growing up, suddenly I understood.

You know, I often say like I entered the world in a lie, right? Like the moment that I got here, the moment that I emerged from my mom, like they were lying to me about who my parents were. And so I think there was a disconnect very early on. And like most kids, I decided like children to make sense of discomfort and unease. We will they will blame ourselves.

You know, I often say like I entered the world in a lie, right? Like the moment that I got here, the moment that I emerged from my mom, like they were lying to me about who my parents were. And so I think there was a disconnect very early on. And like most kids, I decided like children to make sense of discomfort and unease. We will they will blame ourselves.

Like I must be the reason because you can't blame your parents because they're responsible for your survival and well-being. So you blame yourself. And so for me, I think I decided, well, I must not be enough. Like this weird disconnect that I have or this way that they hold me at arm's length or this kind of slight veil where I feel like I'm not getting 100% of the truth.

Like I must be the reason because you can't blame your parents because they're responsible for your survival and well-being. So you blame yourself. And so for me, I think I decided, well, I must not be enough. Like this weird disconnect that I have or this way that they hold me at arm's length or this kind of slight veil where I feel like I'm not getting 100% of the truth.

And I couldn't have articulated any of that as a child, but it was a feeling, right? I thought, well, maybe if I'm better, they'll be closer to me. If I'm better, I'll have their full presence. So that's why I think I interpreted it as I have to be more. I have to do better. I have to be better in order to get presence and love and acceptance.

And I couldn't have articulated any of that as a child, but it was a feeling, right? I thought, well, maybe if I'm better, they'll be closer to me. If I'm better, I'll have their full presence. So that's why I think I interpreted it as I have to be more. I have to do better. I have to be better in order to get presence and love and acceptance.

I did. I mean, my parents did such a beautiful job. And even their choice of not to tell me was a choice that came out of love, right? They were trying to protect me in a time when, I mean, this was, you know, I'm in my 40s. So... there weren't like sperm banks where you could go through a catalog and carefully pick your donor. This was the wild west. People weren't doing this.

I did. I mean, my parents did such a beautiful job. And even their choice of not to tell me was a choice that came out of love, right? They were trying to protect me in a time when, I mean, this was, you know, I'm in my 40s. So... there weren't like sperm banks where you could go through a catalog and carefully pick your donor. This was the wild west. People weren't doing this.

Nobody they knew had done this. And so they thought not telling me was the best way to go. And I think for my dad, not telling me was really because he really was in denial. I mean, he was, he believed the myth of our family. What was the myth of your family? That I was his. Ah. He believed that.

Nobody they knew had done this. And so they thought not telling me was the best way to go. And I think for my dad, not telling me was really because he really was in denial. I mean, he was, he believed the myth of our family. What was the myth of your family? That I was his. Ah. He believed that.

And so his not telling me, I think was really, he was sharing as much of the truth with me as he could. My mom, I think had a more awareness of the reality. And so her not telling me, I think was really protective. Yeah. Yeah. I know it's pretty wild.

And so his not telling me, I think was really, he was sharing as much of the truth with me as he could. My mom, I think had a more awareness of the reality. And so her not telling me, I think was really protective. Yeah. Yeah. I know it's pretty wild.

It's so complicated, but I know it's so funny as I look back on it, because I'm, I feel like when you're able to look back on your life, you can see, or for me, I'll speak for myself. As I look back on my life, I can see how everything happened for a reason. And the things that are our greatest challenges, this sounds so cliche, but But they have become my strengths, right?

It's so complicated, but I know it's so funny as I look back on it, because I'm, I feel like when you're able to look back on your life, you can see, or for me, I'll speak for myself. As I look back on my life, I can see how everything happened for a reason. And the things that are our greatest challenges, this sounds so cliche, but But they have become my strengths, right?

Like this feeling of I have to do better and be better is what allows me to lean into greatness. It's what makes me seek excellence. It's what makes me train for four hours a day and stunt training and a workout on top of that and learning the fight choreography. And, you know, it's like I want to be great in the things I do. The trick for me is...