Kerry Washington Caps an Amazing Year With Emmy Nomination

Booming ratings, insane Twitter buzz, a Vanity Fair cover, a private wedding, and now an Emmy nomination — Kerry Washington is having the best year ever.

Her nomination for Best Actress in a Drama this morning cements her place as a television queen.

Last time this year, Washington's show, "Scandal," could've been canceled. Since then, she's seen her show rise from the ashes and become a hit for ABC. Much of that success is thanks to a huge following on Twitter, where Washington and her co-stars actively engage with fans.

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With the show's resurgence, Washington herself has become a television darling, with Vanity Fair calling her "the most intriguing star." Still, she's been able to keep her personal life out of the media; she married NFL player Nnamdi Asomugha in a secret wedding last month.

But the humble star doesn't like to take credit for the success of "Scandal" — Washington lauded Shonda Rhimes for creating a character as complex and interesting as Olivia Pope.

"For a woman actor, there has never been a better time to be alive," she told Vanity Fair. Men have always had Shakespeare; now we've got Shonda."