Taraji P. Henson, an American actress, has been praised for her exceptional performances in the films “Hustle & Flow” (2005) and “The Curious Case of Benjamin Button” (2008). Her role in “The Curious Case of Benjamin Button” (2008) resulted in an Academy Award nomination for Best Supporting Actress.
Childhood & Education
Taraji Penda Henson, whose name translates to “hope” and “love” in Swahili, was born on September 11th, 1970 in Washington, D.C. She grew up with two siblings and had a close bond with her grandmother.
After completing high school in 1988, Henson enrolled at North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University to pursue a degree in electrical engineering.
However, she ultimately changed her mind and switched to Howard University to focus on acting. To cover her tuition expenses, she took on various jobs such as working at the Pentagon and on a cruise liner.
Taraji P. Henson’s Movies & TV Shows
Following her graduation from Howard University, Henson achieved rapid success in her acting career, thanks to her breakthrough performance in the movie Baby Boy, co-starring Tyrese Gibson.
This role in 2001 catapulted Henson into the spotlight, and she continued to make waves with her role in Hustle & Flow in 2005. In the film, she played the romantic interest of the main character, and the movie received numerous accolades.
Taraji P. Henson earned a nomination for an Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress in 2008 for her performance in The Curious Case of Benjamin Button. She also starred in Tyler Perry‘s The Family That Preys and later took on a role in I Can Do Bad All By Myself in the same year.
Additionally, she had a role in the 2010 remake of The Karate Kid, which was a box office hit despite receiving negative feedback from critics.
Henson’s portrayal of the lead character in Taken From Me: The Tiffany Rubin Story earned her an Emmy Award. In 2012, she became part of the cast for Act Like A Lady, Think Like A Man, and its follow-up in 2014. Hidden Figures, released in 2016, is widely recognized as one of Henson’s most notable films and received multiple award nominations.
In 2018, Taraji P. Henson was featured in Proud Mary and Acrimony and also provided her voice for Disney’s Ralph Breaks The Internet. The following year, she took on the lead role in What Men Want, a remake of the Mel Gibson movie What Women Want.
Throughout her career, Taraji P. Henson has made numerous appearances in various television series. She has played guest roles in popular shows like CSI: Crime Scene Investigation and House, as well as securing recurring roles in The Division and Boston Legal.
One of her most recognized and consistent roles was on the highly praised television series Empire. This show, which aired in 2015, was a major contributing factor to Taraji P. Henson’s rise to even greater stardom, and she received widespread acclaim for her exceptional acting abilities. Henson’s performance on Empire ultimately earned her a Golden Globe for Best Actress in 2016.
Personal Life
Henson’s only child, Marcell, was born in 1994. His father was Henson’s first love from high school, but he tragically passed away in 2003.
In 2018, Taraji P. Henson got engaged to former Super Bowl-winning NFL star Kelvin Hayden. During her conversation with People, she discussed Kelvin being her top supporter.
“He likes it all. He’s just like, my no. 1 fan, there for support. What I love is that he doesn’t really pay attention to it all. He loves me for me.”
Initially, the pair had planned to get married in 2020, but they had to delay their nuptials because of the COVID-19 outbreak. However, later that year the couple called their wedding off. Henson also disclosed that they had made efforts to salvage their relationship before deciding to end it.
Considering her strong advocacy for mental wellness in the Black community, it was not unexpected when Henson shared that they had attempted couples therapy. However, she implied that their ultimate decision was based on their personal happiness.
Net Worth
Taraji P. Henson, an American actress, and singer, has a net worth of $12 million. In 2016, she played the role of Katherine Johnson, a brilliant mathematician, in the film “Hidden Figures,” which greatly contributed to its success at the box office and with critics.
