In the acting world still very much dominated by white Hollywood, the darker-hued Kerry Washington is riding the über-hot wave of being an 'it' girl. The actress, born in The Bronx, is the lead star of the hit ABC political drama Scandal that debuted last April to favourable critical reception and solid ratings, paving the way for a second season which premiered just two weeks ago. But who knew that Washington had a Jamaican connection? The thespian's mother, Valerie, a professor and educational consultant, is Rock-born. Imagine that! The island bond still runs deep as in a 2010 interview with USA Today, mother Washington shared that her baking speciality is none other than Jamaican fruitcake.

As for her boldface offspring, the actress is a graduate of George Washington University. She's one of the in-demand faces in Hollywood, having appeared in such big screen films as Mr & Mrs Smith, Ray and The Last King of Scotland. Washington is set to star in one of this fall's buzzed-about films, Django Unchained, with a cast that includes Oscar winners Jamie Foxx and Christoph Waltz and Leonardo Dicaprio. Washington is also the new spokesperson for L'Oréal, appearing in commercials and television spots alongside fellow actresses Scarlett Johansson and Eva Longoria and model Doutzen Kroes.