Kerry Washington: Women need to stick together

Actress Kerry Washington has made a plea to

women

to stand by each other in order for the system to change.


Speaking at

Sundance film festival

's annual Women in Film Brunch, the 39-year-old star called on women to support each other. "(Progress) will take courage on all of our parts. Sometimes the people who are in charge of those rooms, they want us to feel lucky to be in the room."

"And we are because we're all really blessed to be doing what we do... But that doesn't mean that I don't get to bring other people with me. Being alone in the room is exhausting... You feel like you have to stand up for the entire gender or race. A woman who shouts out other women? That's just something we all have to do," she said.