AceShowbiz - Kerry Washington, the star of the hit television series "Scandal", was inducted into the Hollywood Walk of Fame on Monday, December 2. The honor marked the culmination of a dream that her father Earl Washington had always held for her. "It was kind of a bucket list achievement for my dad," Kerry said.

Born in the Bronx in 1977, Washington began her acting career in plays at the Spence School and made her television debut in 1994. She went on to appear in numerous films and television shows, including "Mr and Mrs Smith", "The Last King of Scotland" and "Fantastic Four".

In 2012, Washington's career skyrocketed when she landed the lead role on "Scandal". Her portrayal of crisis manager Olivia Pope earned her two Emmy nominations for outstanding lead actress in a drama series. Olivia became a groundbreaking character, as Washington was the first Black woman to lead a network TV drama in nearly four decades.

Not only did "Scandal" change the lives of others, it also had a profound impact on Kerry. "I got married, had children, and bought a home," she said. "I'm really grateful to Olivia Pope for how she impacted culture, but also how she impacted me."

Washington has since used her platform to support other artists and artisans through her production company, Simpson Street Productions. "Ironically, the thing that brings me the most joy now is being the supporting character in the story of all of the different artists and artisans that we employ and create opportunity for," she said.

As Washington accepted her star on the Walk of Fame, she reflected on her family's journey from Jamaica to Hollywood. "Once upon a time, years later, decades later, that same uncle Cliff all grown up came to Los Angeles on a vacation with his wife Vicky, and he found a star somewhere on the Walk of Fame with his last name on it," she recalled, adding that her mother's maiden name was Moss.

Washington shared that her uncle's encounter with a star that bore his last name gave her hope and inspiration. "Just like his parents, he dared to dream. My mom and dad also taught me to dream," she said. "Here we are, mom, dad, can you believe it? An actual star."

As a producer and director, Washington said, "I get to help build a platform that provides space for other people to walk toward their dreams." The timing of her Walk of Fame induction was "fitting," she said, because it came after Simpson Street Productions had enjoyed success with "Little Fires Everywhere" and other projects.

"It's fun for me to imagine some kid with the last name Washington, or maybe the first name, Kerry, using their pose in a selfie to cover up half of my name to make room for their legacy," Washington said. "That's the greatest honor for me."