Kerry Washington news and updates: Signs deal with ABC Network

An American actress, Kerry Washington has gained wide public recognition for starring in the ABC drama Scandal, a Shonda Rhimes series in which she plays Olivia Pope, a crisis management expert to politicians and power brokers in Washington DC. For her role, she has been nominated twice for a Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama Series. And now the actress is adding stars to her acting career as she has signed a two-year overall deal with ABC Studios, The Hollywood Reporter has confirmed.

As part of the deal, Washington has brought in Sharla Sumpter Bridgett as development executive/producing partner at Simpson Street.

Simpson Street's first project, which preceded the overall deal, was the Anita Hill/Clarence Thomas HBO movie Confirmation, which the company produced with ABC Signature as well as Groundswell Productions and HBO Films. The movie, in which Washington starred alongside Greg Kinnear and Wendell Pierce, premiered this month to strong, reported the Deadline

"I believe strongly in the importance of having a seat at the table, which makes starting this production company thrilling for me," Washington said in a statement. "It's an honor to be at a point in my career when I can help generate projects that are exciting, necessary and truly reflect the world around us. I'm grateful to be on this journey with ABC, a network that remains unparalleled in its commitment to inclusive storytelling."

For Washington, the producing deal comes as the Scandal lead became the first black woman in nearly 40 years to headline a broadcast network drama when the Shonda Rhimes series premiered back in 2012.

We wish Washington all the best as she joins fellow Shondaland stars Ellen Pompeo in Grey's Anatomy and Viola Davis in How to Get Away With Murder, with overall deals with the studio.