Taraji P Henson

About

Taraji P. Henson is an award-winning American actress, famous for her roles in both film and television. She was born on September 11, 1970, in Washington, D.C. After studying acting at Howard University, she moved to Los Angeles to pursue her career. Henson first gained recognition for her role in the film "Baby Boy" in 2001. She also earned critical acclaim for her performances in "Hustle & Flow" and "The Curious Case of Benjamin Button," for which she received an Academy Award nomination. Henson's biggest TV role is as Cookie Lyon on the popular show "Empire," earning her a Golden Globe Award. Known for her dynamic performances and strong screen presence, Henson is regarded as one of the most influential actresses in Hollywood.

Associated With

Taraji P. Henson is a renowned actress who has worked with numerous notable figures in the entertainment industry. Her breakout role was in John Singleton's "Baby Boy" where she starred opposite Tyrese Gibson. She also gained recognition for her role in the movie "Hustle & Flow" alongside Terrence Howard, a collaboration that extended to the popular television series "Empire", once again playing his love interest. Henson starred alongside Brad Pitt in "The Curious Case of Benjamin Button", which garnered her an Academy Award nomination. In her personal life, Henson dated former NFL player Kelvin Hayden and they were engaged for a while but ended their relationship in 2020. As an advocate for mental health awareness, Henson started the Boris Lawrence Henson Foundation, named after her late father, which aims to break the stigma around mental health issues in the African-American community.

Career Highlights

• 1997-1998: Taraji P. Henson began her acting career with guest appearances on several television shows, including "Sister, Sister," "Smart Guy," and "ER."
• 2001: She made a breakthrough with the movie "Baby Boy."
• 2005: Her role in "Hustle & Flow" made heads turn. Same year, she gave a chart-topping song "It's Hard Out Here for a Pimp" for the film.
• 2008: She starred in "The Curious Case of Benjamin Button," for which she received critical acclaim and an Academy Award nomination for Best Supporting Actress.
• 2010: She appeared in the action-comedy "Date Night" and the remake of "The Karate Kid."
• 2011: She starred in the drama "Person of Interest."
• 2012: Henson starred in the comedy-drama film "Think Like a Man" and its 2014 sequel.
• 2014: She began starring as Cookie Lyon on the FOX drama series "Empire," which earned her a Critic's Choice Television Award for Best Actress (2015).
• 2016: She won the Golden Globe for Best Actress – Television Series Drama for her role in "Empire."
• 2016: Also, she starred in the highly acclaimed drama film "Hidden Figures," for which she received a Screen Actors Guild Award for Outstanding Performance by a Cast in a Motion Picture.
• 2018: She produced and starred in the thriller "Proud Mary."
• 2019: She received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.

Notable Awards

• Taraji P. Henson is a highly accomplished actress and she has won several notable awards, including:
• Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress nominee for "The Curious Case of Benjamin Button" in 2009.
• Screen Actors Guild Award for Outstanding Performance by a Cast in a Motion Picture for "Hidden Figures" in 2017.
• Golden Globe Award for Best Actress – Television Series Drama for "Empire" in 2016.
• Critics' Choice Television Award for Best Actress in a Drama Series for "Empire" in 2015.
• BET Award for Best Actress for "Empire" in 2015 and 2016.
• NAACP Image Award for Outstanding Actress in a Drama Series for "Empire" multiple times from 2015-2018.

FAQs

What Is the Most Popular Taraji P Henson Movie/TV Show?

Arguably, the most popular Taraji P Henson TV show is "Empire," where she played the role of Cookie Lyon. The series ran from 2015-2020 and earned her considerable acclaim, including the Golden Globe Award for Best Actress – Television Series Drama. As for her most popular movie, that would arguably be "Hidden Figures," a 2016 film in which she portrayed Katherine Johnson, a brilliant mathematician who worked at NASA during the Space Race. The movie was a commercial success and was nominated for several awards, highlighting Henson's exceptional performance.

How Did Taraji P Henson Get Famous?

Taraji P. Henson gained fame through her versatile acting career in both television and film. She is best known for her powerhouse performance in the FOX drama series, "Empire," where she portrays Cookie Lyon, a former drug dealer turned music mogul. However, her role as a struggling single mother in the critically acclaimed 2005 film, "Hustle & Flow," truly established her as a formidable actress, earning her Screen Actors Guild Award nominations. Henson also shone bright in her Oscar-nominated role as a tenacious mathematician in the 2016 film, "Hidden Figures." Her undeniable talent and continuous hard work in the entertainment industry solidified her position in the Hollywood limelight.