Taraji P. Henson

Taraji P. Henson

55 · Born: Sep 11, 1970

Personal Details

Official Socials
BornSep 11, 1970 Washington D.C., USA
Parents
  • Bernice Gordon
  • Boris Henson

Biography

Taraji Penda Henson is a multifaceted American actress and singer who has made a lasting impact on the entertainment industry. Her journey began at Howard University, where she honed her acting skills and laid the foundation for her future success.

Before making her mark in Hollywood, Taraji started her career by taking on guest roles in several television shows. However, it was her breakout performance in the 2001 film Baby Boy that truly launched her career.

Taraji's versatility as an actress was showcased in her subsequent roles. She played a prostitute in the critically acclaimed film Hustle & Flow, earning a Screen Actors Guild Award nomination for Outstanding Performance by a Cast in a Motion Picture. Her portrayal of a single mother of a disabled child in David Fincher's The Curious Case of Benjamin Button garnered her Academy Award, SAG Award, and Critics Choice Award nominations for Best Supporting Actress.

In 2010, Taraji appeared in the action comedy Date Night, and co-starred in the remake of The Karate Kid.

Career

2025
Straw
Straw as Janiyah Wiltkinson
2023
The Color Purple
The Color Purple as Shug Avery
PAW Patrol: The Mighty Movie
PAW Patrol: The Mighty Movie as Victoria Vance (voice)
2022
Minions: The Rise of Gru
Minions: The Rise of Gru as Belle Bottom (voice)
2021
Annie Live!
Annie Live! as Miss Hannigan
2020
Coffee & Kareem
Coffee & Kareem as Vanessa Manning
2019
What Men Want
What Men Want as Alison 'Ali' Davis
The Best of Enemies
The Best of Enemies as Ann Atwater
2018
Tyler Perry's Acrimony
Tyler Perry's Acrimony as Melinda Moore Gayle
Hidden Figures
Hidden Figures as Katherine G. Johnson
Term Life
Term Life as Samantha Thurman
2015
Empire
Empire as Cookie Lyon
2014
Think Like a Man Too
Think Like a Man Too as Lauren Harris
2013
Madly Madagascar
Madly Madagascar as Okapi (voice)
From the Rough
From the Rough as Catana Starks
2012
Think Like a Man
Think Like a Man as Lauren Harris
2011
The Good Doctor
The Good Doctor as Nurse Theresa
Person of Interest
Person of Interest as Joss Carter
2010
Date Night
Date Night as Detective Arroyo
The Karate Kid
The Karate Kid as Sherry Parker
2009
Hurricane Season
Hurricane Season as Dayna Collins
Not Easily Broken
Not Easily Broken as Clarice Clark
2007
Talk to Me
Talk to Me as Vernell Watson
Boston Legal
Boston Legal as Whitney Rome
2006
Smokin' Aces
Smokin' Aces as Sharice Watters
2005
Four Brothers
Four Brothers as Camille Mercer
Animal
Animal as Ramona
2004
Hair Show
Hair Show as Tiffany
The Division
The Division as Raina Washington
2002
Book of Love: The Definitive Reason Why Men Are Dogs
Book of Love: The Definitive Reason Why Men Are Dogs as Date #4 / Ghetto Girl (as Taraji Henson)
2001
Baby Boy
Baby Boy as Yvette
1998
Streetwise
Streetwise as Tammy
2022