Primetime Emmy Award winner Kerry Washington is set to return for a second season of Hulu’s Unprisoned on July 17. Led by Washington, Delroy Lindo and Marque Richardson, the series follows the story of a “therapist and single mom [whose life] is upended when her dad gets out of prison and moves in with her and her teenage son.”
“This woman, Paige, thinks her life is one thing. She’s a woman whose dad is away, and she’s figured out how to live her life in his absence. And then, he comes in. It requires a second act for her, where she has to figure out how to be a daughter and how to allow herself to have a relationship with [him],” Washington told Bustle about her role as Paige in Unprisoned.
Washington also finds links between Unprisoned and the current political landscape. Less than two months ago, Donald Trump became the first former President convicted of 34 felony counts in New York. This week, the Supreme Court determined that Trump cannot be convicted of crimes that were committed within the scope of his core duties as President. Moving forward, Trump will attempt to have his convictions in New York expunged, certain charges in Georgia dismissed and secure the Republican Party’s nomination for President. Comparing and contrasting Trump’s future with the day-to-day challenges Paige’s father faces, Washington has begun to lose faith in the criminal justice system.
“Everything has changed in terms of how I feel about the so-called justice system. We’re in such an interesting moment when it comes to [the question of], ‘What is a felon?’ I love what people have been sharing on social media, [saying that] if a person who is a convicted felon can still run for president, then we should be removing that box from job applications,” she said.
Washington also takes issue with Trump likely maintaining his right to vote while an estimated 4.4 million Americans are barred from voting due to a felony conviction.
“That’s huge. Huge. The irony is that [Gov.] Ron DeSantis has been trying to make it impossible in Trump’s home state,” Washington said.
“A bill was passed in Florida to allow formerly incarcerated folks to vote, and DeSantis has been trying to do everything he can to [undercut] that. Donald Trump may not be able to vote in his home state.”
