Taraji P. Henson

Cover Story by MJ Gillison
Photos by: John Russo

Taraji P. Hensen has been told that she has the eyes of Betty Davis, the spitfire personality of Debbie Allen and the stage presence of the inimitable Ms. Ruby Dee. So maybe that’s why this versatile starlet has no problem taking her roles from the hustling streets to the majestic throne. She is no doubt one of the most exciting breakthrough actresses of this generation.

Yet, on any given day, you will find Taraji waking up at 7a.m. to prepare a home-cooked breakfast for her son before she sends him out into the world. “I am very hands-on and I want to make sure my son has the energy he needs to go off to school and have a productive day. I don’t have an assistant. It’s all me. Taking care of my son is my number-one priority.”

Of course, the next focus is her dynamic career. if it seems as though she is strategic when picking her scripts, Taraji says she has an eye for what’s good. She reads the scripts, and if she likes one, goes after it. Acting is a craft and is also a business. “Acting is so much more than just looking cute in front of a camera.” Having been trained in theater at Howard University, this Hollywood starlet says she spent a lot of money on learning her art and thanks God that she has been successful and able to pay it all back. Although many people peg her as a dramatic actress, her success is not built on blind ambition and unharnessed talent: She had to cultivate her artistry. She credits her skill for the dramatic to her early theater work, including staring in Greek tragedies and from being able to draw from her own experiences. “I think I was able to relate to those types of works because,as they say my life wasn’t all bad but it aint exactly been no crystal stair.”

When asked what she thinks of the film industry today and the availability of nonstereotypical roles for black women, Taraji says she doesn’t buy into all the hype. Always being the extreme optimist, Henson believes there are a lot of great roles out there and has never been one to “turn up her nose” to any role. “I don’t judge characters because they are based on real people and there is a reason why that person is the way they are. Honestly, if you think about it, no woman wakes up and aspires to be a whore. But, because of life’s circumstances they have ended up that way. Regardless, it is my job as an actress to portray that role, not judge it.”

Ultimately, there is no role too tough for the free-spirited Hensen to play. From her role as a pimp’s pregnant girlfriend in “Hustle and Flow” to the career oriented, high acheiving, sales professional in “Not Easily Broken”, she has transitioned flawlessly between the characters. Her portrayal of “Queenie” in “The Curious Case of Benjamin Button” even had the moviegoers believing it was possible to love such an ugly, odd-looking baby. That carefully crafted portayal led to an Academy Award nomination for best supporting actress. “I know several actresses who have been locked into a certain type of role because directors think that is all they can do. I think that is BS … I know I can do anything. Acting is my craft; it’s what I studied and what I do. Just give me a dialect coach like they give to other actresses and I will have you believing anything.”

What is missing in Hollywood is a “black Meryl Streep” despite the fact that there are plenty of talented black actresses. Hensen says there is no reason why she or Sanaa Lathan shouldn’t be able to fill that role.

Now, one might think that this Oscar nominated actress might be a little high maintenance like some of the roles she has played on screen. But that is certainly not the case with Ms. Henson; no pompous behavior exists here. This unpretentious thesbian proclaims to be a total home body. Although she is forging a path in film, Taraji, still proclaims to be “the coolest mother on Earth,” and notes that she is the one who takes her 14-year-old to school and tries to attend all of his basketball games. “If I miss one, I have to call him to get the blow by blow of what happened. It seems like my baby has grown up so quickly and I just want to cherish the time I have left with him before he goes away to college. I am already saddened by the fact that I only have a few years left.”

In fact, most of her time is spent at home rather than out and about. Taraji takes pride in her home and prefers to relax there. “I love my house and I have done a lot of work to make it my own.” She describes her Spanish style bungalow as being warm and very inviting with gorgeous breathtaking views. The home is located in a prime spot that hosts both a lively city view of downtown Glendale, California and a relaxing outdoors view of the mountains. “It is so serene. My home is my sanctuary and I try to spend as much time as possible there.” This well-rounded actress describes herself as being both a city girl and a country girl. “I’m kind of like that song by War called ‘City Country’ .”

Despite being raised in the city, Taraji spent her summers with her grandparents in Scotland Neck, North Carolina, a very, small town. As a kid, she hated going to the rural country town because there was nothing to do. But now she thinks back on the past and relishes the time she spent there. “It makes you appreciate life.” Thinking back on the little things we take for granted, she cherishes the memo- ries of clean fresh linen, clothes hanging on the line and picking fresh fruits and vegetables from her grandparents’ garden. “I used to love picking corn, shucking it and sitting at my grandma’s table eating it and having the corn juice running down my elbows. My grandpop used to tell me to make him a mator sandwich. When I think about those summers, it reminds me that ‘quiet moments’ are the most powerful because that is where you find yourself.”

Maybe it was those quiet moments that helped Henson focus on what type of career she wanted. She reminisces about sending her mother dramatic letters when she was away from home during those summers. “I have always had a bit of a flare for the dramatic. My letters would start out with a drawing of one tear drop, and as the weeks went, on the tears would get bigger and increase with each letter and the final one would literally end with a puddle of tears.” She gets her dramatic side from her mother, who Taraji says acts out every little emotion. Her comedic side comes from her late father, whom she describes as funny.

Drawing from both sides of the family tree, Henson’s confidence is exhibited in the range of characters she has played. From the thumb-sucking baby’s momma in Baby Boy, to a dangerous bisexual hit woman in Smoking Aces, she has a versatile body of work. She has also appeared in Four Brothers and Something New. As Taraji continues to push the limits in the industry, she will star opposite Oscar Winner Forest Whitaker in the soon-to-be released film Hurricane Season. Taraji P. Hensen remains one of the very few actresses expanding their influence and impacting Hollywood.

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