1. Kerry Washington
The lead heroine and the absolute number one reason you should be watching
Scandal, the star of
Django Unchained is a revelation in her role as no-nonsense protagonist Olivia Pope, the ultimate crisis consultant who when she isn't busy clearing up and damage-controlling other people's dirty little secrets, is carrying on an on-off clandestine relationship with the President of the United States. This is the perfect vehicle for someone of Washington's skill and ability - Olivia is a complex, layered and utterly rootable heroine with whom we instantly emphasise. It doesn't matter if she's sobbing during a rare, raw emotional moment or if she's cutting down a high-ranking official down to bloody shreds with some choice, gunfire-rapid words, Washington gives a tough and human character a lot of heart under her armour without making her lose her stride. Olivia is a lead protagonist in a league of her own, elevating this already-good drama into something well worth watching. Washington has been badly underused in recent films - her forementioned turn in
Django Unchained amounted to about ten minutes of screentime, making her little more than a MacGuffin in a dress which truly is a shame given the star power Washington has. Even earlier turns in fare like the
Fantastic Four movies (where once again, her Alicia Masters was woefully underused) and the terrible Eddie Murphy kid-friendly vehicle
A Thousand Words show an actress desperate for a lead role where she could shine. Fortunately, Scandal more than offers this. Washington won the NAACP President's Award this month and her star certainly seems on the rise, finally rewarding an actress whose skills and ability more than justify her recent success. Shine on, Ms Washington. Shine on. Thoughts and comments below!