With her hit ABC series "Scandal" nearing its second season finale, Kerry Washington graced the cover of Parade's latest issue.

After striking a few poses for the Ari Michelson-front page shoot, the 36-year-old actress chatted about her role in on the political drama and her lack of downtime.

Check out a few highlights of Miss Washington's interview below. For more, be sure to visit Parade magazine!

On her controversial film "Django Unchained":
"I felt like I barely survived 'Django' emotionally. The violence. Hearing the N-word every day. It cost me a lot psychologically, but it was worth it to tell that story."

On "Scandal":
"The story lines... push what's possible. But there are stories on the news that change what we think is possible all the time. You hear about a governor who's disappeared into the Appalachian trail because he has a South American lover, or somebody else's behavior on Twitter. I mean, if you want to look at president's having affairs - there are about four I can think of off the top of my head."

On her rough work schedule:
"I had two days between finishing 'Django' and starting up again on 'Scandal.' It was nuts. That first day back I had to walk across the Ross Garden in heels. I thought, 'I don't remember how to walk like Olivia Pope anymore.' I'd been barefoot in the woods for months playing a slave."

  Aleksey Kholostov