Born: 1970 (Washington, D.C.)
Biography:
Taraji Penda Henson, born on September 11, 1970, in Southeast Washington, D.C., is an American actress who has made a significant impact on Hollywood. She grew up in a working-class family with her mother Bernice, who worked as a corporate manager, and her father Boris, a janitor and metal fabricator.
Henson’s passion for acting developed at a young age, and she decided to pursue her dream by studying drama at Howard University. Before attending Howard, she initially planned to study electrical engineering at North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University. To support herself financially during her college years, Henson worked as a secretary at The Pentagon in the mornings and as a singing-dancing waitress on a dinner-cruise ship, the Spirit of Washington, in the evenings.
Henson’s acting career began with guest roles on various television shows. However, she gained widespread recognition with her breakthrough role in the film Baby Boy in 2001. Her portrayal of Yvette, a struggling single mother, showcased her immense talent and caught the attention of both audiences and critics.
In 2005, Henson delivered a powerful performance as a prostitute named Shug in the critically acclaimed film Hustle & Flow. Her portrayal earned her widespread praise and established her as a versatile actress in the industry. Three years later, she received a nomination for the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress for her role as Queenie in David Fincher’s The Curious Case of Benjamin Button. This recognition highlighted Henson’s exceptional acting skills and further solidified her presence in Hollywood.
Henson continued to excel in her career, showcasing her diversity as an actress. In 2010, she appeared in the action-comedy Date Night and the drama The Karate Kid. However, her most notable performance came in 2016 when she portrayed mathematician Katherine Johnson in the critically acclaimed drama Hidden Figures. The film shed light on the untold story of African-American women who played a vital role in NASA’s space program. Henson’s portrayal of Johnson received widespread acclaim and further cemented her status as a respected actress.
Aside from her success in film, Henson has also had a prolific television career. In 2011, she earned a nomination for a Primetime Emmy Award for her role in the Lifetime television film Taken from Me: The Tiffany Rubin Story. From 2011 to 2013, she co-starred as Detective Jocelyn Carter in the CBS drama Person of Interest. However, it was her portrayal of Cookie Lyon in the Fox drama series Empire from 2015 to 2020 that truly elevated Henson’s career. Her performance as the fierce and dynamic character not only garnered critical acclaim but also made history. Henson became the first African-American woman to win the Critics’ Choice Television Award for Best Actress in a Drama Series.
In addition to her extensive acting career, Taraji P. Henson has been recognized and honored with various awards. She won a Golden Globe Award for her role in Empire and received Primetime Emmy Award nominations in both 2015 and 2016. In 2016, Time magazine named her one of the 100 most influential people in the world, acknowledging her impact on the entertainment industry and society as a whole.
Henson’s remarkable journey and accomplishments serve as an inspiration not only to aspiring actors but also to women around the world. Through her talent, dedication, and determination, she has shattered barriers and made significant contributions to the representation of women, particularly African-American women, in the entertainment industry.
Awards:
– Golden Globe Award for Best Performance by an Actress in a Television Series – Drama (2016)
– Critics’ Choice Television Award for Best Actress in a Drama Series (2015)
– Primetime Emmy Award nomination for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Limited Series or Movie (2011)
– Academy Award nomination for Best Supporting Actress (2009)