Taraji P. Henson – Influential Artist

Some have referred to Taraji Henson as the “modern Bette Davis,” able to reach her audience with intensity and honesty that is not seen much anymore. She is present on set, listening to direction but also asking questions to make sure she gets the scene just right. Even going the extra step to challenge others around her to make it perfect.

Henson understands the human condition, and you can see it in her acting and through her expressions – the happiness, sadness, laughter, love and pain. In fact, she would have put silent actors to shame with her range of expressions. She is well-known for her role as Queenie in “The Curious Case of Benjamin Button” by David Fincher and won an Academy Award.

Before Henson was cast in “Empire,” she was vastly underappreciated by both Hollywood and white America. However, many African Americans called her their very own “Meryl Streep”. At long last, her role as Cookie has put her in the spotlight and the world can finally appreciate the amazing actress she is.

In fact, Henson won both a Golden Globe Award and Critic's’ Choice Award for her role in “Empire,” and was nominated for a couple of Emmy Awards. Then in 2016, she was named one of the 100 most influential people in the world by Time magazine.

Taraji Penda Henson’s first and middle names have a Swahili origin, Taraji means “hope” and “faith” and Penda means “love”. There are not a lot of notable people with the name.