Kerry Washington Marries Nigerian Secretely...

‘Scandal’ actress Kerry Washington married San Francisco 49ers cornerback and American born Nigerian Nnamdi Asomugha in a private ceremony on June 24 in Blaine County, Idaho, E! News reports exclusively. Washington was known for dating outside of her race, so this news comes as a surprise. Congrats to the happy couple. 

From E! News:

The 31-year-old three-time Pro Bowl star played with the Oakland Raiders, who drafted him following his graduation from UC Berkeley in 2003, for eight seasons and the Philadelphia Eagles for two before signing with the 49ers in April. The bookish athlete is no stranger to showbiz, either, having scored acting gigs on The Game, Friday Night Lights and Leverage in recent years.

This is the first marriage for Washington, 36, who went from generally lovely actress to mega-star over the past year thanks to her breakout roles playing not-to-be-messed-with political fixer Olivia Pope on ABC’s Scandal and Jamie Foxx’s enslaved wife Broomhilda von Shaft in Django Unchained.

Washington broke up with fiancé David Moscow (little Tom Hanks in Big!) in 2007 after several years together. Since then, however, the New York-born actress has kept her private life increasingly on the down-low as her star has steadily risen.

Olivia Pope Is Not A 'Side Piece' - Kerry Washington

Kerry Washington Talks About Olivia Pope Mistress Character

Kerry Washington recently defended herScandal character Olivia Pope and says she doesn’t really appreciate people calling Olivia a side chick…

On why Kerry says she loves playing Olivia Pope:

“We all have a job identity where we have to be in control and we know what we’re doing. Sometimes for our family, we have to act like we’re okay. But then behind closed doors we’re human. I love that about her.”

And when it comes to the “side piece” label Olivia Pope gets from fans of the show, Kerry says she HATES the term and thinks it’s a label that makes women feel bad:

“I just mean for women…I feel like when we refer to other women as a piece it’s objectifying. But I mean also, the President has said to her, ‘I will leave my wife for you.’ She said ‘No.’ So it’s sort of a question on whether she’s choosing to not be with him, she doesn’t believe she deserves it because she doesn’t really think he’ll leave his wife. But he has said, ‘I’ll give up all of this for you.’ So is she a side piece or is she just someone who’s afraid to be all in? I don’t know. Only Shonda Rhimes knows.”

Do you think Olivia is really just a “side piece?” 

Kerry Washington Covers Elle Magazine...

Kerry Washington has been snatching up magazine covers left and right and now she’s shining on the June 2013 issue of Elle.

Inside, Kerry pegs herself the “luckiest broad in Hollywood,” while revealing that she didn’t grow up seeking that type of fame. She also reveals her primping process for those many red carpets she’s been hitting and her method of choosing work. “I’m drawn to work that scares me… drawn to work that intimidates me…”

They say if your dreams don’t scare you, they aren’t big enough.