About Taraji P. Henson
Taraji P. Henson is an American actress, singer, and author. She was born on September 11, 1970, in Washington, D.C. She attended Howard University, where she majored in theater. After college, she moved to Los Angeles, where she began her acting career. She has appeared in numerous major films, such as “The Curious Case of Benjamin Button,” “Hustle & Flow,” and “Hidden Figures.” She is also known for her starring role in the television series “Empire.” In addition to acting, she is also involved in a number of charitable causes. She has won numerous awards, including an Academy Award, Golden Globe Award, a Critics’ Choice Award, and an Emmy Award.
30 Interesting Things Most People Don’t Know About Taraji P. Henson
• She was a part of the singing group “Ideal” when she was younger.
• She studied Electrical Engineering at North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University.
• She is a philanthropist who supports a variety of charities and causes, such as the Boris Lawrence Henson Foundation, which she founded in 2018 to fight mental health stigma.
• She graduated from Howard University with a degree in Theater Arts.
• She won a Primetime Emmy Award for her role as Cookie Lyon in the hit TV series Empire.
• She has starred in several movies, including The Curious Case of Benjamin Button, Think Like a Man, and Hidden Figures.
• She was the first African-American actress to win a Golden Globe Award for Best Actress in a Television Series – Drama for her role in Empire.
• She was a guest judge on the cooking show Iron Chef America.
• She has been nominated for two Academy Awards for her roles in The Curious Case of Benjamin Button and Hidden Figures.
• She was featured on the cover of Essence magazine’s January 2010 issue.
• She is a big fan of the Washington Redskins and has been seen at many of their games.
• She is the author of the book Around the Way Girl, which was released in October 2016.
• She has a son named Marcell, who she had with her ex-boyfriend William Lamar Johnson.
• She has been a guest on the podcast WTF with Marc Maron.
• She is a passionate advocate for mental health awareness and has spoken about her own struggles with depression.
• She is a fan of the hit TV series Game of Thrones.
• She has a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.
• She is an avid yoga practitioner and has been practicing for over 10 years.
• She was the first African-American actress to be nominated for an Emmy Award for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama Series for her role in Empire.
• She was nominated for a Grammy Award in 2016 for her work on the soundtrack of Empire.
• She was the first African-American actress to host Saturday Night Live in 2015.
• She is the executive producer of the TV series Pitch.
• She was the first African-American actress to win the Screen Actors Guild Award for Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Drama Series for her role in Empire.
• She was the first African-American female lead
