Kerry Washington: 'My mom read that Kerry was a reference to the black Irish'

As she stars in Netflix war drama The Six Triple Eight, the American actress tells Esther McCarthy about the fascinating story of the black female regiment, and the Irish origins of her name 

Kerry Washington at the premiere of Netflix film The Six Triple Eight, in Hollywood. Picture  Presley Ann/Getty Images.

A visit to The Kingdom has long been on US actress Kerry Washington’s wishlist. After all, she is named after the Irish county - a name chosen for her by her mother, who wished to embrace her European heritage.

“In the 70s, a lot of black people were naming their kids very Afrocentric names to honour our blackness and embrace their heritage,” says Washington.