First, she gave birth to daughter Isabelle without anyone the wiser — and to date, barely any paparazzi baby pictures have surfaced. And now,

What a year it’s been for Kerry Washington.

First, she gave birth to daughter Isabelle without anyone the wiser — and to date, barely any paparazzi baby pictures have surfaced. And now, she has another Emmy nomination, for playing master handler Olivia Pope in Scandal.

It’s almost an embarrassment of riches for Washington. “I’m really grateful and feel really blessed,” she says.

Last season closed with the president being re-elected and with Olivia quitting her job and getting on a plane — and ignoring his call. As to what happens next … your guess is as good as Washington’s.

“We don’t have a script yet. I don’t even know if that plane is going to Turks and Caicos or maybe it had engine trouble and is in right back in D.C. I don’t know where she’s going. It’s pretty crazy,” says Washington. “You cant thrive with this material unless you’re willing to embrace the unknown. I’m type A, hyper prepared – it challenges me to surrender to these writers.”

Her nomination left Washington at a loss for words. “I am rarely speechless but I feel kind of speechless this morning,” she says. “It’s very surreal. I’m so excited about Joe Morton and Kate Burton.”

And no, Olivia Pope won’t be getting wild and crazy tonight. “I have been going out a little. I don’t have plans to go out tonight. No,” she says.