Taraji P. Henson

Date of Birth: September 11, 1970

Zodiac Sign: Virgo

Date of Death: * (Taraji P. Henson is alive as of the latest update in 2023)

Biography

Taraji P. Henson is an acclaimed American actress, singer, and author known for her versatile roles in both film and television. Born and raised in Washington, D.C., Henson graduated from Howard University with a degree in theater arts. She began her career in guest roles on various television shows before making a significant breakthrough with her role as Yvette in the 2001 film “Baby Boy.” Henson gained wider recognition for her role as Shug in the 2005 film “Hustle & Flow,” for which she received an Academy Award nomination for Best Supporting Actress. She further solidified her reputation with her portrayal of Queenie in “The Curious Case of Benjamin Button” (2008), earning another Oscar nomination. Her television career soared with her role as Cookie Lyon in the hit TV series “Empire,” which premiered in 2015. The role earned her a Golden Globe Award and made her a household name. Taraji has also appeared in other notable films including “Hidden Figures” (2016), where she played mathematician Katherine Johnson, and “Think Like a Man” (2012). In addition to her acting career, Henson is an advocate for mental health awareness, particularly within the African American community. She launched the Boris Lawrence Henson Foundation in 2018, named after her late father, to provide resources for mental health support.

5 Interesting Facts about Taraji P. Henson

1. Taraji P. Henson named her son Marcell after her late father, Boris Lawrence Henson.

2. She worked two jobs while attending Howard University, one as a secretary at the Pentagon and the other as a singing-dancing waitress on a dinner cruise ship.

3. She is a classically trained singer and performed the song “It’s Hard out Here for a Pimp” for the film “Hustle & Flow,” which won an Academy Award for Best Original Song.

4. Taraji was the first African American woman to win a Critics’ Choice Television Award for Best Actress in a Drama Series for her role in “Empire.”

5. She published a memoir titled “Around the Way Girl” in 2016, which became a New York Times bestseller.

5 Most Interesting Quotes from Taraji P. Henson

1. “If you listen to your fears, you will die never knowing what a great person you might have been.”

2. “I love music. Music is my passion.”

3. “Every human walks around with a certain kind of sadness.”

4. “Life is a journey, and I’m finding myself every day!”

5. “I don’t think you should ever stop learning. I don’t think you should ever stop growing. It doesn’t matter what age you are.”

Highest Net Worth Achieved

As of 2023, Taraji P. Henson’s highest net worth is estimated to be around $25 million.

Children

Taraji P. Henson has one child, a son named Marcell Johnson, who was born in 1994. Marcell has followed in his mother’s footsteps and has pursued a career in acting and modeling.