Taraji P. Henson | |
|---|---|
_(cropped).jpg) Henson in 2016 | |
| Born | Taraji Penda Henson (1970-09-11)September 11, 1970 (age 55) Washington, D.C., U.S. |
| Education | North Carolina A&T State University Howard University (BFA) |
| Occupation | Actress |
| Years active | 1997–present |
| Partner | Kelvin Hayden (2015–2020) |
| Children | 1 |
| Awards | Full list |
Taraji P. Henson onmental health treatment within theAfrican American community. Recorded June 7, 2019 | |
Taraji Penda Henson (/təˈrɑːdʒi/tə-RAH-jee; born September 11, 1970) is an American actress.Her accolades include aGolden Globe Award, alongside nominations for anAcademy Award, sixEmmy Awards, and aTony Award. In 2016 and 2024,Time named Henson one of the100 most influential people in the world.
After studying acting atHoward University, she made her film debut in the crime filmStreetwise (1998). Henson gained recognition for playing a prostitute inHustle & Flow (2005) and as nursing home caretaker, Queenie, inDavid Fincher'sThe Curious Case of Benjamin Button (2008). The latter earned her a nomination for theAcademy Award for Best Supporting Actress. In 2016, she portrayed mathematicianKatherine Johnson inHidden Figures.[1] She has also acted inBaby Boy (2001),The Karate Kid (2010),Think Like a Man (2012),Acrimony (2018),What Men Want (2019),The Best of Enemies (2019), andThe Color Purple (2023).
Henson has also had an extensive career in television. From 2011 to 2013, she co-starred asJoss Carter in theCBS drama seriesPerson of Interest. From 2015 to 2020, she starred asCookie Lyon in theFox drama seriesEmpire, for which she won theGolden Globe Award for Best Actress – Television Series Drama and was nominated forPrimetime Emmy Awards in 2015 and 2016. Her other Emmy-nominated roles were for theLifetime movieTaken from Me: The Tiffany Rubin Story (2011) and for her guest role in theABC sitcomAbbott Elementary (2023).[2]
Henson also released aNew York Times best selling autobiography titledAround the Way Girl in 2016.[3] In 2019, she received a star on theHollywood Walk of Fame.[4][5]
Taraji Penda Henson[6][7] was born September 11, 1970, in SoutheastWashington, D.C., the daughter of Bernice (née Gordon), a corporate manager atWoodward & Lothrop, and Boris Lawrence Henson, a janitor and metal fabricator.[6][7][8][9] She has often spoken of the influence of her maternal grandmother, Patsy Ballard, who accompanied her at the Academy Awards the year she was nominated.[10][11][12][13] She was raisedCatholic.[14]
Her first and middle names are ofSwahili origin: Taraji ("hope") and Penda ("love").[15][16] According to amitochondrial DNA analysis, her matrilineal lineage can be traced to theMasa people ofCameroon.[17] She has said that North Pole explorerMatthew Henson was "the brother of [her] great-great-grandfather."[18]
Henson graduated fromOxon Hill High School inOxon Hill, Maryland, in 1988.[6] She attendedNorth Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University, where she intended to study electrical engineering, before transferring toHoward University to study drama.[11][13] To pay for college, she worked mornings as a secretary atThe Pentagon and evenings as a singing-dancing waitress on a dinner-cruise ship, theSpirit of Washington.[19]
Henson received herSAG membership card in the early 1990s for doing three roles as abackground performer. Her first prominent role was in the 2001 comedy-drama filmBaby Boy, where she portrayed Yvette, alongside singerTyrese Gibson.[20]
Henson has guest-starred on several television shows, includingThe WB'sSmart Guy, theFox seriesHouse in 2005, andCBS'sCSI: Crime Scene Investigation in 2006. She also appeared in an episode ofSister, Sister.[6] In 2005, Henson was in the independent filmHustle & Flow as Shug, the love interest of the male lead, DJay, portrayed byTerrence Howard. She made her singing debut in the film, which was nominated for twoAcademy Awards and won one. In 2008, she appeared withBrad Pitt inDavid Fincher's drama filmThe Curious Case of Benjamin Button,[21] where she played Queenie, Benjamin's mother, and for which she received an Academy Award nomination forBest Supporting Actress.[22] In an interview with Lauren Viera ofThe Chicago Tribune, Henson described Queenie as "the embodiment of unconditional love."[23]
Henson acted in twoTyler Perry films,The Family That Preys in 2008 andI Can Do Bad All By Myself in 2009. In 2010, she appeared in the remake ofThe Karate Kid withJaden Smith andJackie Chan. Though reviews were lackluster, the film was a commercial success.[24] Additionally, Henson has been a cast member on several television shows, includingLifetime'sThe Division andABC'sBoston Legal for one season. Her recurring characters include Angela Scott on ABC'sEli Stone. In 2011, she was cast in theCBS crime-suspense seriesPerson of Interest.[25][26] In the November 20, 2013, episode, "The Crossing", after co-starring for two and a half years, Henson's character, 'Joss' Carter was killed as part of the series' new storyline.[27]
In 2011, Henson starred as Tiffany Rubin in theLifetime Movie Network filmTaken from Me: The Tiffany Rubin Story. It was based on true events in the life of a New York woman whose son, Kobe, was abducted by his biological father toSouth Korea.[28][29] Her portrayal of Rubin received positive reviews[30] and earned her several award nominations, including aPrimetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Miniseries or a Movie.[31] In 2012, Henson was in the large ensemble cast filmThink Like a Man, based onSteve Harvey's 2009 bookAct Like a Lady, Think Like a Man. She reprised the role in the film's sequel,Think Like a Man Too, released in June 2014.[32]
In 2015, Henson was cast to headline in theFox seriesEmpire, a musical drama set in thehip hop recording industry,[33] where she playsCookie Lyon opposite formerHustle & Flow costarTerrence Howard. Fox ordered the pilot in May 2014, and the series debuted on January 7, 2015, with positive critical reviews and wide commercial success.[34][35] The role brought Henson widespread recognition and critical acclaim.[36][37][38] In July 2015, she was nominated for thePrimetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama Series, and submitted the show'spilot for Emmy voting, for which she became the first African-American woman to win theCritics' Choice Television Award for Best Actress in a Drama Series. In January 2016, she won theGolden Globe Award for Best Actress – Television Series Drama forEmpire, becoming only the third African-American actress to take home the award afterGail Fisher (1972) andRegina Taylor (1992).[39] At the46th NAACP Image Awards, she was named the 2015Entertainer of the Year for her roles inEmpire andNo Good Deed.[40]
In 2015, Henson teamed up with Howard to produce and host a variety holiday special forFox,Taraji and Terrence's White Hot Holidays. The special was produced again in 2016 and 2017, without Howard.[41] In 2016, Henson starred in the biographical drama filmHidden Figures, a major box-office success nominated for numerous awards, including threeOscars (Best Picture,Best Adapted Screenplay, andBest Supporting Actress forOctavia Spencer) and twoGolden Globes (Best Supporting Actress for Spencer andBest Original Score). It won theScreen Actors Guild Award for Outstanding Performance by a Cast in a Motion Picture.
In January 2018, she starred inSony Screen Gems's thriller-drama filmProud Mary, as ahit woman whose life is turned around when she meets a young boy who awakens the maternal instinct she never knew she had.[42] In March, she starred in the filmTyler Perry's Acrimony as a faithful wife who, after tiring of standing by her husband, is enraged when she believes herself betrayed.[43] In November, she voiced the character Yesss inDisney'sRalph Breaks the Internet,[44] a sequel to the studio'sWreck-It Ralph.
In February 2019, Henson starred inWhat Men Want (based on the 2000Mel Gibson romantic comedyWhat Women Want)[45] as a female sports agent, looked down upon by male colleagues, who gains the power to hear men's thoughts.[46] In April 2019, she starred in the historical dramaThe Best of Enemies, portraying civil rights activistAnn Atwater.[47]
In July 2020, it was reported that aspin-offEmpire series focusing on Henson's character, Cookie Lyon, was in development, with Henson producing and starring, as part of Henson's two-year first-look deal with 20th Century Fox Television through her production company, TPH Entertainment. The deal includes developing projects for the network across multiple platforms. Henson said she hopes to tackle a number of sensitive topics while cultivating young, fresh voices. FOX has since decided to not move forward with the spin-off, currently putting the series on hold.[48] In December 2020, Henson began hosting the talk showPeace of Mind with Taraji onFacebook Watch.[49]
On December 2, 2021, Henson played the role of Miss Hannigan inAnnie Live! on NBC.[50]
Henson also portrayed Shug Avery in the 2023 filmThe Color Purple acting alongside Danielle Brooks, who portrayed Sofia.[51] The film was released on December 25, 2023.
In 2026, Henson competed inseason fourteen ofThe Masked Singer as "Scarab". She was eliminated on "Clueless Night" alongsideTone Loc as "Handyman" and even asked which audience members didn't vote for her.[52] Henson will make her Broadway debut as Bertha Holly in a revival of theAugust Wilson playJoe Turner's Come and Gone, directed byDebbie Allen.[53]
Henson made her singing debut in the filmHustle & Flow, where she provided the vocals for theThree 6 Mafia track "It's Hard out Here for a Pimp".[19] The song won anAcademy Award for Best Original Song in 2006, giving Three 6 Mafia the distinction of becoming the first African-American hip hop act to win in that category.[54] Henson and the group performed the song at the live Oscar ceremony on March 5, 2006.[55] She also sang "In My Daughter's Eyes" on the 2006 charity albumUnexpected Dreams – Songs From the Stars.[56]
Henson has made several appearances in music videos and television. In 2005, she starred in the rapperCommon's music video "Testify" as the wife of a soon-to-be-convicted murderer,[57] and appeared inTyrese Gibson's music video "Stay" as his love interest.[58] On March 16, 2015, she was a guest co-host onLive! with Kelly and Michael, filling in forKelly Ripa.[59]
Henson collaborated with MAC Cosmetics to create the Taraji P. Henson makeup collection in late August 2016. The #MACTaraji collection debuted the following month.[60] In November 2016, she again collaborated with MAC as the spokesperson for their Viva Glam Campaign, along withJussie Smollett, to benefit the MAC HIV/AIDS fund. Their collection debuted in February 2017.[61]
Henson has appeared in a few stage roles, including a production ofAugust Wilson'sJoe Turner's Come and Gone and thePasadena Playhouse'sAbove the Fold.[62][63] She also started The Boris Lawrence Henson Foundation.[64] Named after her father, it deals with cultural mental illness.
On April 1, 2022, Henson was appointed by PresidentJoe Biden to the President's Board of Advisors on Historically Black Colleges and Universities.[65][66]
In June 2025, Henson spoke at the inauguration ofAisha Braveboy ascounty executive ofPrince George's County, Maryland.[67]
In 1994, Henson gave birth to her son, Marcell.[68][69][70] His father, Henson's high-school sweetheart William LaMarr Johnson, was murdered in 2003.[71][72] In 2014, Henson said that her son had beenracially profiled by police and that his car had been illegally searched during a traffic stop inGlendale, California. A video obtained by theLos Angeles Times showed Marcell had driven through a lighted crosswalk while a pedestrian was crossing, given verbal consent to search his vehicle, and admitted to smokingmarijuana two hours before driving.Hashish oil and marijuana were found inside the car.[70] Forty minutes after the video was made public,[70] Henson said in anInstagram message, "I would like to publicly apologize to the officer and the Glendale Police Department. A mother's job is not easy, and neither is a police officer's."[73][74]
A supporter ofPeople for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA), Henson appeared nude in an ad for theI'd Rather Be Naked Than Wear Fur campaign in January 2011.[75][76] She joined PETA again for their 2013 campaign, "Be an Angel for Animals", where Henson posed with her family dog Uncle Willie. "Chained dogs suffer day in and day out," the ad stated. "They are cold, hungry, thirsty, vulnerable, and lonely. Keep them inside, where it's safe and warm."[77]
Henson posed nude for the May issue ofAllure magazine in 2012.[78] In February 2015, Henson was featured in an ad for theNOH8 Campaign supporting theLGBT community.[79] In late 2017, she switched to avegan diet.[80]
On May 13, 2018, Henson was engaged to former NFL playerKelvin Hayden.[81] She disclosed the end of their engagement during an episode ofThe Breakfast Club on October 19, 2020.[82]
Henson is a Christian and considers acting to be a spiritual experience.[83][84]
Henson has receivedmany accolades for her work in film and television. In 2015, Henson won theCritics' Choice Television Award for Best Actress in a Drama Series (forEmpire), and became the first black actress in the history of the awards to do so.[85] She also won aGolden Globe in the same category for the series. Additionally, Henson has received nominations for theAcademy Award for Best Supporting Actress (forThe Curious Case of Benjamin Button), multipleScreen Actors Guild Awards (winningOutstanding Motion Picture Cast in 2017 forHidden Figures) and threePrimetime Emmy Awards (forTaken from Me: The Tiffany Rubin Story andEmpire).
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1997 | The Parent 'Hood | Aida | Episode: "Fast Cash" |
| Sister, Sister | Briana | Episode: "Two's Company" | |
| 1997–98 | Smart Guy | Monique/Leslie | Guest cast (seasons 2–3) |
| 1998 | ER | Patrice Robbins/Elan | Guest cast (seasons 4–5) |
| Saved by the Bell: The New Class | Girl #3 | Episode: "Loser" | |
| 1998–99 | Felicity | R.A. #2/Art Student | Episode: "Drawing the Line Part 1" & "Todd Mulcahy Part 2" |
| 1999 | Pacific Blue | Rhonda | Episode: "The Right Thing" |
| 2000 | Strong Medicine | Crystal | Episode: "Drug Interactions" |
| Satan's School for Girls | Paige | Television film | |
| 2001 | The Test | Herself/Panelist | Episode: "The Friendship Test" |
| Murder She Wrote: The Last Free Man | Bess Pinckney | Television film | |
| 2002–04 | The Division | Inspector Raina Washington | Main cast (seasons 2–4) |
| 2004 | The Drop | Herself | Episode: "Pitbull ftLil Jon/Taraji" |
| All of Us | Kim | Episode: "In Through the Out Door" | |
| 2005 | Half & Half | Gabrielle | Episode: "The Big How to Do & Undo It Episode" |
| House | Moira | Episode: "Spin" | |
| 2006 | CSI: Crime Scene Investigation | Christina | Episode: "I Like to Watch" |
| 2007–08 | Boston Legal | Whitney Rome | Main cast (season 4) |
| 2008 | Eli Stone | Angela Scott | Recurring cast (season 2) |
| 2009–10 | Soul Train Music Awards | Herself/Co-Host | Television specials |
| 2010 | The Cleveland Show | Chanel Williams | Voice, episode: "Brotherly Love" |
| 2011 | Taken from Me: The Tiffany Rubin Story | Tiffany Rubin | Television film |
| 2011–15 | Person of Interest | Detective Jocelyn "Joss" Carter | Main cast (seasons 1–3), guest cast (season 4) |
| 2013 | The 365Black Awards | Herself/Host | Television special |
| 2014 | Hollywood Game Night | Herself | Episode: "Clue Boom-Boom Pow" |
| Seasons of Love | Jackie | Television film | |
| 2015 | Unsung Hollywood | Herself | Episode: "Baby Boy" |
| Saturday Night Live | Herself/Host | Episode: "Taraji P. Henson/Mumford & Sons" | |
| Guys Choice Awards | Herself/Host | Television special | |
| Taraji and Terrence's White Hot Holidays | Herself/Co-Host | Television special | |
| Lip Sync Battle | Herself/Competitor | Episode: "Terrence Howard vs. Taraji P. Henson" | |
| 2015–20 | Empire | Loretha "Cookie" Lyon | Main cast |
| 2016 | Ice Age: The Great Egg-Scapade | Ethel | Voice, television film[90] |
| Celebration of Gospel | Herself/Host | Television special | |
| 2016–17 | Taraji's White Hot Holidays | Herself/Host | Television specials |
| 2017 | Carpool Karaoke: The Series | Herself | Episode: "John Legend andAlicia Keys"[104] |
| The Simpsons | Praline | Voice, episode: "The Great Phatsby" | |
| 2018 | Lip Sync Battle | Herself/Competitor | Episode: "A Michael Jackson Celebration" |
| D'Astrain No Cinema | Herself | Episode: "Review de "Ralph Breaks the Internet" | |
| Nick Jr. Bedtime Stories | Herself/Storyteller | Episode: "A Snowy Day" | |
| 2019 | My Houzz | Herself | Episode: "'Empire' Star Taraji P. Henson Gives Stepmom a Remodel" |
| Tuca & Bertie | Terry | Voice, episode: "Sweetbeak" | |
| 2020 | American Music Awards | Herself/Host | Television special |
| Jacked | Herself/Host | Television special | |
| 2020–21 | Peace of Mind with Taraji | Herself/Host | Television special |
| 2021 | Nickelodeon's Unfiltered | Herself | Episode: "As Seen On Burrito" |
| Soul of a Nation | Herself | Episode: "Black Joy" | |
| Legendary | Herself/Guest Judge | Episode: "Pop Tart" | |
| Project Runway | Herself/Guest Judge | Episode: "If You Got It, Haunt It" | |
| Muppets Haunted Mansion | Constance Hatchaway | Television film[105] | |
| Annie Live! | Miss Hannigan | Television film | |
| 2021–22 | BET Awards | Herself/Host | Television special |
| 2022 | RuPaul's Drag Race | Herself/Guest Judge | Episode: "Glamazon Prime"[106] |
| 2022–23 | That's My Jam | Herself | 2 episodes |
| 2023 | Celebrity Prank Wars | Herself | Episode: "Taraji P Henson V.Fantasia" |
| America in Black | Herself | Episode: "Taraji P. Henson,Chloe Bailey andWill Packer" | |
| 2023-2025 | Abbott Elementary | Vanetta Teagues | Guest cast (season 2 & 5)[107] |
| 2024 | Fight Night: The Million Dollar Heist | Vivian Thomas | Miniseries[108] |
| 2026 | The Masked Singer Season 14 | Scarab; Contestant | 2 episodes |
| Year | Title |
|---|---|
| 2011 | Bowl of Dreams |
| Kevin Hart: Laugh at My Pain | |
| Mama & Me | |
| 2021 | Mary J. Blige's My Life |
| 2023 | Going to Mars: The Nikki Giovanni Project |
| Year | Title | Role | Director | Theatre |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | Joe Turner's Come and Gone | Bertha Holly | Debbie Allen | TBA |
| Year | Song | Artist |
|---|---|---|
| 2005 | "Testify" | Common |
| 2008 | "Just Like Me" | Jamie Foxx featuringT.I. |
| 2011 | "Stay" | Tyrese |
| 2020 | "Body" | Megan Thee Stallion |
| 2023 | "Jealousy" | Offset &Cardi B |
Yes, he's my great-great cousin. He was the brother of my great-great-grandfather. Matthew would send him letters about his travels while out on his expeditions.
...her 17-year-old son...
