Netflix offers a fascinating history lesson in written and directed by Tyler Perry (a far cry from the Madea movies that made him a household name) and serves as his third project in 2024.

The Six Triple Eight stars Kerry Washington (who also helped produce the movie) as Major Charity Adams, the leader of the 6888th Battalion. Her perspective on the team she's been asked to lead shifts when she meets newcomer Lena Derriecott King (Ebony Obsidian), who ed the army after her own beloved was killed in action. Together, the women of the unit manage to sort 17 million pieces of mail ahead of schedule, in defiance of the odds and low expectations of those around them.

ScreenRant interviewed Washington about the confluence of events before Tyler Perry's The Six Triple Eight script reached her, and the lessons stepping into Major Charity Adams' shoes taught her. The actor also gushed about her role in Wake Up Dead Man: A Knives Out Mystery.

Kerry Washington Explains Her Serendipitous Encounter With The Six Triple Eight

“Wouldn't it be cool to do a movie about these women?"

ScreenRant: You are absolutely incredible in this film. This is a side of you that we haven't seen on screen yet, and I am happy this story got told because this is something I didn't know about. I can't wait for the world to see who the Six Triple Eight are.

Kerry Washington: Real heroes. Real, real heroes.

ScreenRant: Absolutely. How did you first discover the story of the Six Triple Eight, and what was your initial reaction upon learning about their incredible achievements?

Kerry Washington: This crazy thing happened. I got this email from Tyler Perry where he was like, "I have this sizzle reel I want you to watch for a project that we should work on," and I was like, "Great. I have this crazy weekend. I have multiple photo shoots, but I'll take a look at it on Monday."

That weekend we did a photo shoot for a series I was doing on Instagram called Black Herstory, and I dressed up as Lena Derriecott King, and it was so exciting for me. I didn't even know [about them]; my social media director brought me this story about these women. I'd never heard of them, and I was blown away. I was like, "We have to do this." I loved getting dressed up in the wardrobe, so I was like, "Wouldn't it be cool to do a movie about these women?" But it was like a wish upon a star. It wasn't an actual thing in my mind.

A couple of days later, I opened the sizzle reel, and it was them. It's the story of these women. It was mind-blowing. I couldn't believe it. I got on the phone with Tyler, and he said, "I want you to play their Captain, Charity Adams," and it was full-body chills. I was like, "I'm in. I don't know how in the world you're going to make an interesting captivating film about the mail, but I'm in. I'm down for you. Let's go."

ScreenRant: Yeah, they made a film about the mail, and I started crying at the end of it. That was so serendipitous.

Kerry Washington: There were a lot of those moments on set. I really feel like you could call it serendipity. I kind of call it God.

Learning Leadership From The Six Triple Eight’s Major Charity Adams

“She expected the best and the most of these women, but she also did it with a very open heart.”

ScreenRant: You play Major Charity Adams. What did you learn from her leadership style, particularly her ability to maintain morale among her troops?

Kerry Washington: It's funny. I felt like she started helping me to be her the moment I got on set because, as an executive producer, I felt like it was kind of part of my responsibility to make sure that the girls all got along. So that we could operate as a troop, that we trusted each other, that we liked each other, and that we felt safe to take big creative swings and to have big emotional moments with each other.

Her leadership style is so inspiring to me because I think she really found that beautiful balance, and she talks about it in her memoir; that balance of being both fierce and totally in command, but also remaining comionate. She expected the best and the most of these women, but she also did it with a very open heart and a high level of maternal instinct, even though she wasn't yet a mom. So, I really ire her leadership style, and I try to carry it with me in my life now because I think she really is one of our greatest heroes.

ScreenRant: You mentioned feeling that you were surrounded by the angels of the Six Triple Eight. Can you talk about a moment during filming where you felt that profound connection with these historical figures?

Kerry Washington: Yeah, there was a moment when I was sitting in my dressing room with Tyler Perry. We were rehearsing one of her many monologues and tweaking the language and going through it, and we got a knock on the door, and it was a guy from transportation. He came in with a trunk that said Charity Adams on the side, and it was her actual trunk.

Inside were wardrobe items; there were twigs and seeds from her victory garden that she had planted in Europe, which I had just read about in her memoir. I mean, it was extraordinary. It felt like her energy; her essence was living in that material.

Kerry Washington Opens Up (But Spills No Secrets) About Knives Out 3

“We are so excited to get to share this film with the world.”

ScreenRant: How has it been working with another creative genius, Rian Johnson, on the highly-anticipated Wake Up Dead Man: A Knives Out Mystery?

Kerry Washington: Oh, my gosh. It's so exciting. I got to see Rian when he came to the big party that I had for my star on the Walk of Fame, and I missed him. I was so happy to see him. We wrapped a few months ago; we were filming this Summer. It was so great to see him and to talk to him about how editing is going. Making that film was such a joy.

Obviously, I can't tell you a single thing about the movie other than Daniel Craig is in it, but it's fantastic. It was so fun to work with this cast. We adore each other. We are so excited to get to share this film with the world, and I feel so lucky that I get to be a part of that ensemble.

More About The Six Triple Eight (2024)

The Six Triple Eight is inspired by the first and only Women’s Army Corps unit of color to serve overseas in WWII. Despite facing racism and sexism - and grueling working conditions - they were committed to serving their country with honor and distinction. Given an extraordinary mission and united in their determination, these unsung heroes delivered hope and shattered barriers.

Check out our other The Six Triple Eight interviews here:

• Tyler Perry
• Ebony Obsidian

The Six Triple Eight begins streaming December 20 on Netflix.

Source: Screen Rant Plus