Kerry Washington recently revealed a surprising childhood connection to Jennifer Lopez, sharing that the global superstar was her dance instructor at a Bronx Boys & Girls Club in the 1980s.
During an appearance on the Good Hang With Amy Poehler podcast, Washington explained that Lopez—then a teenager—stepped in to teach classes when their regular instructor was hospitalized. "If I was like eight, she was 16 or something like that," Washington recalled. "I learned hip-hop and flamenco. I learned to dance from Jennifer."
Washington described one memorable performance where Lopez danced a duet with their teacher. "It was very risqué. We weren't supposed to watch it," she said. "But we all hid in the wings cause we couldn't not watch it. It was beautiful. She was beautiful. She's always been a real inspiration for me."
The actress later honored Lopez at The Hollywood Reporter's Women in Entertainment gala, where she presented the Maid in Manhattan star with the Equity in Entertainment Award. In her speech, Washington reflected on Lopez's lasting influence:
"When Jennifer left the Bronx to move out to Los Angeles to pursue a career in entertainment, she taught me what creative courage looks like. And when she started to appear every Sunday night on our TV screens as a fly girl during In Living Color, she taught me the value of chasing my own unique dreams."
Washington emphasized that Lopez's journey from their shared Bronx roots to Hollywood stardom made the entertainment industry feel accessible. "I would remember to think of Jennifer," she explained. "I would say, 'Jen does this. She was doing it. And I knew her.' She was one of us."
In a powerful conclusion to her tribute, Washington stated: "It might sound like hyperbole, but I am telling you: Without Jennifer Lopez, there is no Kerry Washington. But here's the crazier reality: I am one of millions of people who feel that way."