Kerry Washington, known for her role on Scandal, shared a nostalgic photo celebrating the 25th anniversary of her first film, Our Song, which premiered in theaters on May 21, 2001. At 24 years old, Washington appeared youthful and joyful alongside her castmates with her signature close-cropped curls in the image.
The 49-year-old actress expressed deep gratitude for the film’s impact on her life, stating,
Tonight we had a special screening for the 25th Anniversary of my very first feature film, OUR SONG. WOWWWW. It has been soooooooo long since I’ve seen the movie. Being a part of this film changed my life. This role, this cast, this crew, this director JIM MCKAY, and this experience, shaped me as not only an actor, but as a human. I am forever grateful. The film is beautiful and if you’ve never seen it, I highly recommend the watch!!!!!
Washington also sent a loving message to her co-star Melissa Martinez, who was absent from the event:
We missed you Melissa!!!!!! Love you,
Fans joined in the celebration online, sharing their fond memories. One admirer commented,
Our Song was my movie as a kid!! I fell in love with Kerry Washington.
Another added,
I used to wear this film OUT!!! I still have the DVD somewhere. Happy 25!
Washington Reflects on Early Career Before Mainstream Success
In an earlier interview with Vanity Fair, Kerry Washington revealed that her first Screen Actors Guild card came from a minor part in an ABC after-school special, where she played a cheerleader. She humorously noted,
Little did I know, I’d spend seven seasons on ABC,
referring to her eventual starring role in Scandal beginning in 2012.
Discussing Our Song, she described it as a really beautiful indie movie and shared insights into its modest production, saying,
It was a very low-budget film, but I didn’t now how films were made. So our entire transpo department wasn’t a bunch of teamsters and trucks. It was like four metro cards, and sometimes my mom would drop us off. All of the cast members at our various homes.
She reflected warmly on the collaboration, adding,
It was a really special movie. The director was Jim McKay, who I adore. And I learned so much making that movie. To be able to be in a film, playing a real girl in a marching band in New York. Every day, I felt like all of my dreams had come true.
Washington also recounted how filming Our Song led to her discovering the film Save the Last Dance, starring Julia Stiles, and subsequently securing a role there. She explained,
In a lot of ways my character Chenille was inspired by a lot of the real kids I was working with in Brooklyn filming ‘Our Song.’ For me, those films will always be very tied to each other.
What This Anniversary Means for Washington’s Journey
The celebration of the Our Song anniversary highlights a pivotal moment in Kerry Washington’s career, marking the start of her transition from emerging actress to a household name. The experience not only shaped her acting craft but also her growth as a person, reflecting the significance of her early work on location in Brooklyn and in the larger theater scene.
By revisiting this milestone, Washington reconnects with the roots of her craft and shares that journey with her audience, encouraging new viewers to discover the film’s understated beauty. This anniversary thus serves as both a personal celebration and a prompt to appreciate Washington’s evolving artistry over the past 25 years.
