Kerry Washington Wins 3 Trophies At NAACP Image Awards, Dedicates Them To ‘Ancestors’

Scandal star Kerry Washington cleaned up at the NAACP Image Awards Friday, taking home three trophies.

At the 44th annual awards ceremony, Washington picked up awards for outstanding actress in a drama series for Scandal and outstanding supporting actress in a motion picture for Django Unchained. She was also awarded the President’s Award, which acknowledges special achievement and exceptional public service, according to The Associated Press. Washington serves on President Obama’s Committee on the Arts and the Humanities.

In her acceptance speech for the supporting actress award, Washington redirected the accolades away from herself.

“This award does not belong to me,” Washington said. “It belong to our ancestors. We shot this film on a slave plantation, and they were with us along every step of the way.”

In Django Unchained, the 36-year-old actress plays Broomhilda von Shaft, wife of the eponymous protagonist, who is sold to plantation owner Calvin Candie (Leonardo DiCaprio).

In Scandal, Washington plays Olivia Pope, a Washington, D.C. crisis management consultant. Her character is based on real-life crisis manager Judy Smith, who served as Special Assistant and Deputy Press Secretary to President George H.W. Bush.

Other winners for the night included Denzel Washington for best actor in a motion picture (Flight), Viola Davis for outstanding actress in a motion picture (Won’t Back Down), and Omar Epps for supporting actor in a drama series (House). The war drama Red Tails, a fictionalized portrayal of the Tuskegee Airmen, won the award for best picture. The film stars Terrence Howard and Cuba Gooding, Jr.

Members of the Tuskegee Airmen, as well as the cast and crew of Red Tails, attended a private screening of the film, hosted by President Obama at the White House, in January.

[Image credits: cinemafestival and DFRee/Shutterstock.com]