Kerry Washington was fired from previous TV pilots for not being 'urban' enough

NEW YORK, June 8 (UPI) -- In a discussion on typecasting with fellow actor Aziz Ansari, Scandal star Kerry Washington said she was fired from two pilots before landing the Shondaland role.

The two talked about their experience with stereotyping in Hollywood for Variety's Actors on Actors, ultimately agreeing people of color and other minorities need to make their own opportunities in the industry.

"Before Scandal, I was actually cast in two other pilots. Both went to series, but I was fired and recast," Washington said. "For both, it was because they wanted me to sound more 'girlfriend,' more like 'hood,' more 'urban.'"

Ansari, who created Netflix's Master of None, added that stereotyping definitely wasn't an acute issue in Hollywood.

"A lot of other minority actors have told me, 'Oh this so rings a bell' when you go to an audition room and you see a bunch of people that look like you and you just start feeling like, 'Oh I'm not here [for me], I'm here because I fit what looks like the person they want here," the former Parks and Recreation actor said.

Ansari outlined the experience on the "Indians on TV" episode of his popular Netflix series. In it, he frequents audition rooms filled with Indian men and is prompted to sound "more Indian."

"I definitely feel like I'm at that point where it's nice to not have to sit at home and wait to be invited to the party, but to be creating work for yourself," Washington, who stars in Confirmation, added.