Playing a mother on screen is not new for Kerry Washington. From her first role in 'Our Song' to 'Save the Last Dance' and 'Lakeview Terrace,' pregnancy comes along with the characters she's played.

Coming up next for the New York City native is another role where motherhood is involved: ''Mother and Child.'

Directed by Rodrigo Garcia, the cast also includes Naomi Watts, Annette Bening, Samuel L. Jackson, Jimmy Smits, David Morse, Shareeka Epps, S. Epatha Merkerson, Tatyana Ali, Lisa Gay Hamilton, Cherry Jones, Amy Brenneman and LaTanya Richardson.

Three women's lives share a common thread: They have all been profoundly affected by adoption. Karen (Bening) had a baby at 14, gave her up at birth and has been haunted ever since by the daughter she never knew. Elizabeth (Watts) grew up as an adopted child. She's a bright and ambitious lawyer, but a flinty loner in her personal life. And Lucy (Washington) is embarking on an adoption odyssey with her husband.

Washington spoke to Black Voices recently about her role, as well as her current stint on Broadway in David Mamet's critically acclaimed play 'Race.'

What is this film is about?

Kerry Washington: The film is a lot of things. It's a highly complicated film, but in many ways, it's about three women who all go through dramatic transformations of character because of relationships in their lives, which, by the way, for three actresses is amazing because we don't normally get to be the people who go through this. We get to holds the hands of those who are going through the transformation. All of them, through their relationships, are transformed. None of us are the women that you meet at the beginning of the film. Naomi's character goes from someone who tied her tubes as a teenager to someone who is excited about being a mother and for the first time is willing to look for her mother. Karen, who's played by Annette Bening, transforms completely, and my character wouldn't let her visit a baby at the beginning of the film had they met. A lot of what goes on is the journeys we make as human beings.

Do you think Lucy's need for a child clouds her vision on her marriage?

KW: I think that from my understanding of it, they were two people who loved each other very much but wanted different things. I think that happens sometimes in a marriage. On the road sometimes, you realize that there is something that you can't repair. I've heard people say that the husband [in the film] is such a horrible person. I think it's very responsible of him to be honest with her at that point to say that he didn't think it was a good idea. My God! How much worse would it have been for that kid had he been dealing with the issues of being an adopted child and the abandonment of a father? It's really great that he takes responsibility for who he really is. Up to that point, he's trying to do what he thinks is the right thing, but you can only be who you are, and that's admirable.

What do you think you brought to the character?

KW: When I read the script, I called Rodrigo and said, "I think Lucy's funny." There was something about her massive anxiety that was funny to me, and I wanted to play in that a little bit. It was something about how tightly wound of a perfectionist she is. She is a person where everything in her life fits in a box, from her pearls to her bakery to her perfect little marriage. She's someone who in life has gotten all that she wanted and for the first time she's being faced with the idea that she actually doesn't control the universe. We see a woman coming to terms with that and a lot of what her journey is about learning to take on life on life's terms and to be grateful for you have as opposed to what you're supposed to have.

Did you speak to women who had gone through the adoption process?

KW: Yes. I did speak with a lot of women who had gone through the process, and I also did a lot of research on women who had been through infertility procedures. I felt that it was where we meet Lucy and she's actually been through this other difficult journey of wanting to be a mother and trying to be biologically. We meet her at the end of that, which is a huge journey and roller-coaster ride for a lot of women.

How was working with Cherry Jones?

KW: My time with Cherry was more like what can I learn from her. I have just worshiped her forever. It was interesting because we were shooting when 'Doubt' the movie was out, and I was like, "Did anyone see Cherry on Broadway?" She was an inspiration and a support for me in a lot of those pivotal scenes. This is the sort of cast where your work is constantly being elevated by the people you are working with. This is great.

How's working on Broadway?

KW: The show is great and really fun and a complete dream come true for me in New York, especially when all I ever wanted to do is Broadway. It's really exciting to doing it. The play has been extended to June 13 and it may get extended after that.

Were you thrilled to have a portrait done at Sardi's restaurant?

KW: That was really crazy. We had our portraits revealed at Sardi's recently, and that was supercool and very surreal.

What about yourself? Are you determined to have children? Do you have a goal?

KW: No, I don really have a goal. I don't have the Lucy fire right now, but I think it's something I'd like to do.