Kerry Washington was nervous about joining Twitter.

The 37-year-old actress joined the social networking site as she wanted to be able to interact with fans of her hit US TV series 'Scandal' but she's admitted she was reluctant at first.

Quizzed on whether she's happy she took the leap, she said: ''Yes. There is a real power in social media. The world has become a global community and that's very exciting. [But] I'm a very private person so I was nervous about it.

''I didn't know how to interact in this way without feeling like I was violating a sense of having a personal life outside and separate from work.''

The 'Django Unchained' actress - who has three-month-old daughter Isabelle with her husband Nnamdi Asomugha - is also a keen supporter of charities which fight for equality.

Kerry explained to Stylist magazine: ''I've gravitated a lot towards women's issues because I'm a woman. Also, I believe in equality for all members of our community and that lends itself to being very active around voting, voters' rights and participating in a democracy.

''Our voices are heard in the US by showing up and voting. It's important that people know they own that privilege.''