HMMMMMMM! Did you know that Kerry Washington Wasn't ABC's Original Choice to Play Olivia Pope on 'Scandal'?
The cast and creative team of ABC’s Scandal sat down for an interview with THR amid their 100th episode celebration – and a big reveal was made.
Apparently, ABC wanted Connie Britton for the role, and Shonda Rhimes and others on the team fought for a black actress to star. The role obviously went to Kerry Washington, who has played the role since day one!
“Nothing felt more important than the sense of outsiderness. I didn’t know that there hadn’t been a drama series with a leading black woman for 37 years. When the show got picked up [to pilot], I got a phone call from somebody who said, ‘This would be the perfect show for Connie Britton.’ I said, ‘It would be, except Olivia Pope is black,’” Shonda told THR.
“The network was reading us their top choices, and it was Connie and all white women. I panicked. Somebody finally piped up, ‘We’re going to have to redo this list,’” Linda Lowy, the casting director, added. “We tested Kerry, Jill Scott and Anika Noni Rose. It was Kerry from the moment I took her to meet Shonda.”
Meanwhile, Kerry added, “This would have been a great role for Connie Britton!”
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