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The first episode of the show’s seventh and final season will air tonight at 9 p.m. ET on ABC.

Throughout the seven seasons, Washington, a mother of two, has continued a loud tradition of getting the cast and crew excited to start filming.

“At the very start of every episode, I scream very loudly,” Washington explained. “I scream very loudly whatever episode number it is … and then we all bang on furniture and yell and scream.”

She continued, “It’s surreal because I remember doing it for episode 101 and here we are back seven years later. Every episode we finish we know we’re getting closer to the end.”

Once the show is over, Washington said she can’t imagine what it will be like to not portray Pope on the small screen.

“I feel like it’s sort of like people asking me what it’s like to break up with a boyfriend that I’m still in love with,” she said. “I don’t know what that’s going to be like.”

Washington said she does have projects lined up through her production company and would not mind collaborating with an old pal, “Hamilton” creator Lin-Manuel Miranda.

“I would sing anywhere and everywhere with him,” Washington said, adding that she starred with Miranda in a workshop for his Tony-winning musical “In the Heights” before they each became household names.

“I called Lin and said, ‘You know, I got this callback for this movie about Ray Charles so you might want to find a backup for the workshop,’” Washington said, referring to her role alongside Jamie Foxx in 2004’s “Ray.” “And I went off and did ‘Ray’ and he became a superstar.”

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