Kerry Washington's parents were "terrified" about her decision to be an actress

When asked by Stylist magazine if her parents were fearful about her career change, former yoga supply teacher Kerry explained: "Terrified! My mother tried to talk me into doing a million other things. She used to say, 'Don't be an actor. Be a lawyer for actors.'

"I think every parent fears their child will be a starving artist - and with good reason because so many people wind up on that path. I'm very grateful they allowed me to pursue my dreams."

Kerry - who has three-month-old daughter Isabelle with husband Nnamdi Asomugha - did admit that she almost gave up on acting, after giving herself just one year to make it into a full time job.

She shared: "I had a really specific plan. I gave myself a year after undergraduate school to see if I could make some money. If it didn't work out I told myself I would go back to graduate or law school.

"If it didn't work out, I was willing to do other things for work. I wanted to at least give myself a shot, to invest in my own heart and passions.

"And I'm very lucky I was able to do a movie in that first year ['Our Song' in 2000] because I'm not sure I would've stuck with it otherwise. I'm very grateful that happened."