'Scandal' season 5: Olivia will be 'a different woman' upon show's return

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There's still an entire month to go before "Scandal" season 5 resumes but the wait is made easy with spoilers trickling in.

As she promoted her new film "Confirmation" during the Television Critics Association winter press tour, series lead star Kerry Washington opened up about the big changes fans will witness upon the show's return.

As it turns out, the biggest product of the eye-popping revelations and scandals that happened before the midseason break is a new Olivia Pope. Washington says that her character has "definitely changed" and this transformation will manifest when the show returns.

"What happened at the end of the winter finale [represented] a huge decision for her," the actress revealed as quoted by TV Line. "And she's a different woman because of it," she went on to say. "Scandal" season 5 will show just how much Liv changed.

In the previous episode of the series, Olivia and Fitz broke up after a massive fight. As the public slowly come to terms about the new relationship of the president of the United States, Liv suffers each and every day she does the taxing First Lady work.

During the winter finale of "Scandal" season 5, Liv looked as if she was happy about spending Christmas at her home, starting a new life outside the White House and away from Fitz. Are fans looking at a tougher Liv in "Scandal" season 5?

On the other hand, the new season will also deal with the troubles caused by Olivia's father Pope, fresh from prison as he run around the city enjoying his newfound freedom. Jake certainly does not want this to go on, not after his wife being one of the murderer's unfortunate victims.

"Scandal" season 5 will return on Feb. 11 with an episode titled "It's Hard out Here for a General." Meanwhile, those hoping to see Washington outside "Scandal" and in the Golden Globe Awards 2016, fans would hate to know that she won't be attending for reasons she did not disclose.