HBOKerry Washington told E! News that she hoped her new HBO movie, Confirmation, would inspire viewers to hold people in elected positions accountable and to spark conversations about sexual harassment and victims' rights.
Washington played Anita Hill in Saturday's film, which followed the attorney's 1991 testimony in front of the Senate Judiciary Committee that U.S. Supreme Court Justice (and then-nominee) Clarence Thomas (played by Wendell Pierce) sexually harassed her when they worked together in the 1980s.
"I think the importance of having these confirmations, to be willing to have nuanced conversations about race, gender and power. I think that's something I really hope people are encouraged to do. I hope people acknowledge the legacy, the history of the hearings and also this thing about being aware of the process," she said. "We're so lucky to live in a representational democracy. That means that they represent us, so we have to make sure that they are representing us, that they're doing their jobs and really, acting as we want them to. They work for us, that's the great thing about this country."
Like the trial itself, Confirmation tackled the issues of sexism and gender and power—and Pierce told E! News he hopes something like that won't happen again.
"It was a painful episode for the justice, Ms. Hill and a lot of the senators," Pierce said. "It also raises the veil…we have to be very vigilant to make sure that this doesn't happen again, because it's something that doesn't go away."
Now, having seen the film, do you agree? Did seeing the woman also known as Olivia Pope playing Hill light a fire to hold important people accountable for their actions?
Leave your thoughts about the movie in the comments below!