# The 2004 movie role that saved Kerry Washington from early retirement: “I think I’m done acting”

- URL: https://talkfuse.com/story/the-2004-movie-role-that-saved-kerry-washington-from-early-retirement-i-think-im-done-acting/
- Published: 2026-10-28T02:30:00+00:00
- Updated: 2026-10-28T03:09:42+00:00
- Original publisher: Far Out
- Original article: https://faroutmagazine.co.uk/2004-role-saved-kerry-washington-from-early-retirement/
- Topics: Entertainment, Film

## Key points

- *Ray* helped Washington decide to continue acting.
- She had considered retraining as a yoga teacher.
- The role helped raise her profile before *Scandal*.

## Summary

Kerry Washington says the 2004 film *Ray*, in which she played Ray Charles’s wife, Della Bea Robinson, persuaded her to keep acting when she was considering leaving the profession. The role came after a run of disappointing projects and limited opportunities, and helped raise her profile in Hollywood.

Washington had put down a deposit for yoga teacher training before choosing *Ray* instead, saying she lost the money because she wanted to make the film. Jamie Foxx starred as Charles and won the Best Actor Oscar; although Washington received little awards attention for her performance, the film helped lead to stronger roles and, later, *Scandal*.

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Summarised by TalkFuse (https://talkfuse.com/). Quote the original publisher for the reporting and link this page for the summary and discussion.