Kerry Washington returns to the big screen in ‘Wake Up Dead Man: A Knives Out Mystery.’ 

Having become a household name with memorable roles in ‘Scandal’, ‘Django Unchained’ and ‘The Last King of Scotland’, the star is back and center stage in Rian Johnson’s latest offering.

The next instalment in the popular murder mystery sees Benoit Blanc called to a small church in upstate New York to solve the murder of a Monsignor, which defies all logic.

Washington joins a stellar lineup of Daniel Craig, Josh O’Connor, Josh Brolin, Glenn Close, Andrew Scott, Mila Kunis, Daryl McCormack, Cailee Spaeny and Jeremy Renner in a movie that is guaranteed to have the audience on the edge of their seat and guessing until the very last moment.

In celebration of the film’s release, Washington sat down with That Grape Juice to discuss the murder-mystery movie, working with Daniel Craig, her production company, Simpson Street, and her future plans.

 Check out the EXCLUSIVE interview above and below…

That Grape Juice (Adam Davidson): What is it about the ‘Knives Out’ world that makes it such a compelling space, which allows actors to thrive?

Kerry Washington: It’s really fun to be part of this franchise and be part of the ‘Knives Out’ family. I think one of the things that drew me to this was all the rumours around town about how much fun it is to make these movies. Rian Johnson has a reputation of being a really kind, collaborative, warm, clear and visionary director and the kinds of actors that want to be part of these movies are ones that want to be part of an ensemble. So less ego, more creativity and more of a collaborative spirit. Making this film was like being at Summer camp. It was such a delight, every single day.

That Grape Juice: What does this movie tap into socially about the cult of personality?

Kerry Washington: I think Rian Johnson does such a beautiful job with all three films operating on several levels. Even with the first two ‘Knives Out,’ you have the entertaining murder mystery that is witty, funny, intriguing and dangerous, and then you have this other layer of commentary on what’s happening in society today. There is this third layer in ‘Knives Out 3’ where Rian is telling this personal story of faith, and he’s really grappling with ideas of loyalty and belonging and grace and forgiveness and acceptance, so it’s really exciting to be part of material that is so complicated and operating on so many different levels.

That Grape Juice: What was it like to step into your characters’ shoes?

Kerry Washington: I really enjoyed playing Vera. I feel like she is someone who has given up a lot of herself to belong in this culture, and she has a really exciting journey of discovering more of herself along the way. That was fun to play a character who is at a personal turning point and having a revelatory moment.

What was it like to explore the dysfunctional mother-son relationship with Daryl McCormack? There’s a fine line between comedy and drama.

Kerry Washington: It was really fun. Daryl is such a great actor, and I was so excited to work with him. It was a joy to play and figure out how to tell this story in a way that can illuminate the issues and themes.

That Grape Juice: Josh Brolin compared the energy of the ensemble to that of an orgy… how would you describe it?

Kerry Washington: It felt like a family, really. It reminded me of my days working on ‘Scandal,’ working with a team which I felt really close to and admired and respected. It was also like being on some championship basketball team where you know you are being called to work with some of the best in the game, and you don’t want to be the one who drops the ball. You want to be there for your teammates, and you want to help each other be better and do better. There was also that spirit of digging in together to build something great.

That Grape Juice: How does Rian create that atmosphere on set?

Kerry Washington: I think it has so much to do with Ram [Bergman] Rian and Daniel [Craig.] The three of them are so hard working, they are so themselves, generous and kind and open. No one has the permission to walk in and be an asshole because those 3 guys are doing it and doing it graciously and gracefully. I am so impressed with Daniel, and from movie to movie, he is able to create this sense of camaraderie with such a welcoming attitude.

That Grape Juice: Just a word on Daniel’s performance as Benoit Blanc… What was it like to see him at work?

Kerry Washington: I know, some days it felt like, “Oh my Gosh, I actually have a front-row seat watching Benoit Blanc.” He is so fun to watch. He was also so extraordinarily prepared, and he had so much more to do than most of us expect, Josh O’Connor. He was always the busiest and always the most prepared. That also levelled the expectation. Everybody wanted to come in and bring their A-game.

That Grape Juice: Do you have any highlights from days on set?

Kerry Washington: I think some of my favourite moments on set are when we would be very unprofessional and try to make each other laugh from behind the camera to get each other to break character. There was just so much genuine sharing of ourselves and our souls with each other in between takes and scenes. It was really special. Whether we were in the tent in the studio or in the middle of the woods, there was always this real sense of belonging.

That Grape Juice: Do you have a favourite murder mystery movie?

Kerry Washington: Growing up, I really loved Nancy Drew books. I thought those books were so fun. I’ve always been a fan of the Knives Out franchise, I really have! I think Rian Johnson’s brain is a miracle. How he comes up with these plots and twists and turns and consistently surprises us movie after movie is just tremendous.

That Grape Juice: Was it the case that you got the script, and you didn’t even need to look at the character, you were sold straight away?

Kerry Washington: I love Rian, I would have done anything he wanted me to do, but it was really exciting to read the script, and I was very honoured to be invited to this party.

That Grape Juice: As an audience member, we see the action unfold before our eyes. As an actor, is it just as engaging when seeing it unfold on the page?

Kerry Washington: I had to read it several times. Rian’s scripts are very dense because they are so complicated. That doesn’t happen with me very often, where I have to immediately re-read it, but I was so excited to be swimming in this dense and rewarding material.

That Grape Juice: Throughout your career, you’ve always had a great versatility in the roles you take… What would you like to explore next?

Kerry Washington: I’ve just had a run of some really exciting projects. I’ve just done a series for Apple that my production company, Simpson Street, is making called ‘Imperfect Women’ with myself and Lizzie Moss. We are in the post-production of that, but I’m really excited about that and proud of it.

I finished doing a movie with Ben Affleck earlier this year called ‘Animals.’ So I have a couple of projects that I’ve just finished where I’m feeling very grateful. When I think of ‘Knives Out,’ ‘Animals,’ ‘Imperfect Women,’ I’m not sure what I want to do next or where I want to go next. It’s time for me to take a little bit of a pause.

That Grape Juice: Is your production company something that’s really driving you? What is it like to be involved with something like that?

Kerry Washington: It’s really wonderful to have a production company because there are these moments in my career where I get invited to a party like ‘Knives Out’, but it’s great to be able to have the agency to be creating work for myself and other people in those in-between times. So, I’m very grateful for Simpson Street and shows like ‘Imperfect Women,’ ‘Little Fires Everywhere, ’ and we have a narrative podcast on Audible called ‘The Prophecy, ’ and lots of stuff going on.

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‘Wake Up Dead Man: A Knives Out Mystery’ is streaming now on Netflix

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