Movies: Kerry Washington Is Know-It-All, Nerdy Analyst In “Cars 3”

Multi-awarded African-American actress Kerry Washington (Django Unchained, TV's Scandal), lends her voice to Natalie Certain, a highly respected statistical analyst who knows her numbers, in Disney-Pixar's No.1 US box-office hit Cars 3 (in Philippine cinemas July 26, 2017).

Book-smart and mathematically gifted, Certain is a fresh voice in the racing world. But while she may earn top marks in her ability to evaluate a racer’s stats, she could be underestimating the importance of determination.

“Natalie Certain is a know-it-all, bossy pants, super-nerdy character,” shares Washington, who jokes, “I’m nothing like that, so it was a stretch, but I was somehow able to access the truth of this character who thinks she knows everything.”

Movies: Female Car Trainer Cruz Ramirez Is Sunny-But-Fierce In “Cars 3”

In Disney-Pixar's No.1 US box-office hit Cars 3, Lightning McQueen meets his match in Cruz Ramirez, a sunny-but-fierce unconventional trainer at the Rust-eze Racing Center.

Tasked with getting Lightning back on track after a devastating setback, Cruz isn’t shy – her training style is high-tech, enthusiastic and steadfast—she’s not afraid to apply a little tough love. But there’s more to Cruz than meets the eye.

According to story supervisor Scott Morse, while Cruz may be the antidote to Lightning’s issues, she’s also a bold, bright yellow reminder. “She’s a very tangible personal version of what he freaked out about before he crashed,” says Morse. “She is the face of the future. She is cool. She is brash. She seems to know a lot more than him. She is kind of flippant about it. She’s really good and doesn’t have to work for it like he does. She’s young. He’s old.”

Movies: “Cars 3” Races To The Screen For Series' Biggest Adeventure Yet

Lightning McQueen is back on the big screen in Disney-Pixar’s Cars 3 -- but he’s not a rookie anymore. Blindsided by a new generation of blazing-fast racers, the legendary Piston-Cup champion finds himself suddenly pushed out of the sport he loves.

“The next-gen racers are cool,” says Cars 3 director Brian Fee. “You can see instantly that cars like Jackson Storm are effortlessly fast. We designed these younger, faster cars to be sleek and aerodynamic—and they’re a sharp contrast to Lightning McQueen.”

Producer Kevin Reher says the story is reflective of real-life champions. “Lightning McQueen has been racing for more than a decade,” says Reher. “He’s struggling with the kind of issues a lot of athletes face later in their careers. Do you go out on top or fight till the end?”