Taraji P. Henson

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Taraji P. Henson (2016)

Taraji Penda Henson (born September 11, 1970 in Washington, DC ) is an American actress and singer .

Life and accomplishments

Henson grew up in her native Washington, DC on. She began studying electrical engineering at North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University , then moved to Howard University . During this time she worked as a secretary in the United States Department of Defense , as a singer and as a dancer to help fund her studies.

The actress made her debut in 1997 on an episode of the television series Smart Guy . In the horror film Witches for the School of Satan (2000) produced for television , she played one of the larger roles alongside Shannen Doherty . The role in the film drama John Singleton's Baby Boy (2001) brought her a special award at the Locarno International Film Festival in 2001 as a member of the ensemble and in 2002 a nomination for the Black Reel Award . In 2006 she was nominated three times for the same award: As a supporting actress and ensemble member in the film drama Hustle & Flow (2005) and as an ensemble member in the action thriller Four Brothers (2005). Her role in the drama Hustle & Flow also earned her the Black Movie Award and one nomination for the Washington DC Area Film Critics Association Award in 2005, and two nominations for the MTV Movie Award , one cast member nomination for the Screen Actors Guild Award and one nomination in 2006 for the Image Award . In 2006 she also received the BET Award .

In the biopic Talk to Me (2007) she played the role of the friend of Don Cheadle 's radio presenter Ralph Waldo Greene . She received the Gotham Award as a member of the ensemble in 2007 and was nominated for the Satellite Award . In 2008 she was nominated for the Image Award . In the same year she was nominated for the Screen Actors Guild Award 2008 as a cast member of the television series Boston Legal .

Henson sang the later Oscar- winning song It's Hard Out Here for a Pimp for the film Hustle & Flow . She also sang this song during the Academy Awards on March 5, 2006.

In 2008, Henson took on the role of Queenie in the drama The Strange Case of Benjamin Button and was nominated for the 2009 Oscar for Best Supporting Actress. For the same role, she was also recognized by the Austin Film Critics Association for Best Supporting Actress and nominated for the Critics' Choice Movie Awards .

In 2010 she starred in the movie Karate Kid as the mother of Dre, played by Jaden Smith . She also appeared in the performance art film for Jay-Z's song Picasso Baby .

Black Men Magazine readers voted Henson one of the 10 Sexiest Women of 2001 . She has a son, whose father died in 2003, and lives in Glendale , California .

Since 2015, Henson has played the main character Cookie Lyon in the drama series Empire. In 2016 she won the Golden Globe for Best Actress in a Series.

Filmography (selection)

Awards and nominations

Oscar

Primetime Emmy Award

  • 2011 : Nomination for “Best Actress in a Miniseries or TV Movie” for Taken from Me: The Tiffany Rubin Story
  • 2015 : Nomination for “Best Actress in a Drama Series” for Empire
  • 2016 : Nomination for "Best Actress in a Drama Series" for Empire

Golden Globe Award

Screen Actors Guild Award

Critics' Choice Movie Award

Critics' Choice Television Award

Saturn Award

MTV Movie & TV Awards

  • 2017: Nomination as Best Performance in a Movie for Hidden Figures - Unrecognized Heroines
  • 2017: Award as Best Hero for Hidden Figures - Unrecognized Heroines
  • 2017: Nomination for the Best Kiss for Hidden Figures - Unrecognized Heroines

Teen Choice Award

Web links

Commons : Taraji P. Henson  - Collection of Images

Individual evidence

  1. ↑ a b biography in the IMDb , accessed on January 31, 2008
personal data
SURNAME Henson, Taraji P.
ALTERNATIVE NAMES Henson, Taraji Penda (full name)
BRIEF DESCRIPTION American actress and singer
DATE OF BIRTH September 11, 1970
PLACE OF BIRTH Washington, DC , United States