Kerry Washington in Elle June 2013

Kerry Washington graces the cover of Elle's June issue, which will be available on newsstands May 21. In her first major fashion magazine spread, the actress dons Marc Jacobs and opens up about her path to success, red carpet preparations, and why she is humbled by her career choice — although it was not her first pick. While Kerry had a moment to shine in the spotlight at last night's Met Gala, where she wore a floral Vera Wang gown, she has been busy promoting her upcoming comedy Peeples and hit show Scandal. Here's more from Kerry in Elle:

• On the career she thought she'd pursue: "I imagined I'd be a clinical psychologist, with a focus on how performance shapes identity. I'd figure out ways to use role-playing in the healing of people."
• On the thought of becoming a model or film actress: "I was not that girl. I was a kooky theater kid, silly and goofy and academic."
• On getting red-carpet-ready: "I found out I enjoy the process. All these people show up at my house, they all have kits, someone has dresses. And it's like, Let's have fun. It's not all about me. We're able to create stories on the red carpet."
• On her current success: "I'm the luckiest broad in Hollywood now. To be the lead actor on Scandal and to be in the highest-earning Tarantino movie — I don't get to ask for more."