Exclusive: Meet Judy Smith, the real-life Olivia Pope

CHICAGO -- When Chicago native Shonda Rhimes interned at a law firm in the nation's capital, she became intrigued with the inner workings of the Beltway.

Fast forward several years. When Rhimes became a mega-hit producer, she scheduled a meeting with Washington D.C. crisis manager Judy Smith. It was supposed to last just 15 minutes but went two hours, and before Smith could get to the parking lot, Rhimes said, "I must do a show about your life." So a Thursday night obsession was born.

"Scandal" was inspired by her life when she worked as deputy press secretary in the White House. On the show, President Grant is having an affair with his former Director of Communications Olivia Pope. But not so in real life.

"I want all your viewers to know I didn't have sex with the president," Smith said.

Smith admits the story lines are graphic and intense, but cautions some topics don't parallel her life.

"Moving dead bodies from crime scenes - that doesn't happen in my actual office in Washington, just to assure everyone" she said.

So how do the writers come up with those plots that keep fans, known as "gladiators," on the edge of their seats?

"I come up with crisis ideas and send them to Shonda. And she will call and say, 'what do you think about this?' and we talk about it," Smith said. "I read every script and I send them notes, and sometimes I am on the set. It's fun."

Smith has been described as the "ultimate fixer," who has spent 20 years repairing reputations. So as co-producer of the show, she makes sure her reputation isn't damaged in the process of the dramatization.

"Sometimes they are filming a scene and it's really important to get it right," she said. "The season where the president got shot, you want to make sure that that's right or they're going to a White House state dinner, you want to make sure that's really sort of on the money."

And what does she think about the actress bringing her story to life on the small screen?

"I think Kerry does an amazing job. We talk each script, which is really, really great. And, you know, we email."

And while Smith doesn't star on the show, she is enjoying her new found fame.

"This woman turned around and she said, 'That looks like an Olivia Pope coat!'" Smith recalled. "And I said, 'Yeah, it kind of does.' And then she turned around and did a double take, 'Oh my God, it's you, the real Olivia Pope! Oh my God!' It's changed in that regard. I feel very blessed."

Smith usually operates under the radar, even though she is use to representing high profile clients including former Illinois Congressman Jesse Jackson, Jr. and Monica Lewinsky.

Smith recently penned a book called "Good Self, Bad Self: How to Bounce Back from a Personal Crisis." She wanted to share what she has learned over the past two decades.

"Sometimes it's good to go out there and be ambitious. All those things are good, but at the same time that good trait can cross the line a bit and move into a very bad trait," Smith said.

So what can we expect from the new season of "Scandal"?

"High-stakes drama," Smith said. "We are going to find out what happens to Kerry, Ms. Pope, is she coming back, what's going to happen to Harrison, what's going to happen to the firm, about Huck and Quinn's relationship."

Smith says there are some cases she wouldn't take, including the Lacy Peterson and Caylee Anthony cases. She says she wouldn't take a case she doesn't think she could move the needle and help them reach their end goal.

Another question she gets often, on Twitter and in person, is why Olivia Pope always wears white. The answer is simple: its Smith's favorite color.

EXCLUSIVE VIDEO: Judy Smith, unedited, on Olivia Pope and "Scandal"