Taraji P. Henson

Taraji P. Henson: Biography in Details

Who is Taraji P. Henson?

Taraji Penda Henson is an American Actress and Author.

She studied acting at Howard University and began her holy career in guest roles on several television shows before making her breakthrough in Baby Boy (2011).

She had played in many television shows and also played in many films.

Taraji’s Early life, Childhood & Education

Taraji Penda Henson was born on September 11, 1970, in Southern Washington, D.C., the daughter of Bernice (nee Gordon), a corporate manager at Woodward & Lothrop, and Boris Lawrence Henson, a janitor and metal fabricator.

Taraji P. Henson has often spoken of the influence of her maternal grandmother, Patsy Ballard, who was at her Academy Awards the year she was nominated.

Her first and middle names are of Swahili origin, with “Taraji” meaning hope and “Penda” meaning Love.

According to a mitochondrial DNA analysis, her matrilineal lineage can be traced to the Masa people of Cameroon.

Henson has said that North Pole explorer Mathew Henson is “the brother of my great-great-grandfather”

Henson graduated from Oxon Hill High School in Oxon Hill, Maryland, in 1988.

Taraji P. Henson then attended North Caroline Agricultural and Technical State University where she studied electrical before transferring to Howard University to study drama.

To pay for college, she worked mornings as a secretary at Pentagon and evenings as a singing-dancing waitress on a dinner cruise ship, the spirit of Washington.

Social Media Profile

Henson is active on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter. She has more than 9.1 million followers on Facebook.

She has around 16.3 million followers on Instagram and more than 5.5 million followers on Twitter.

Taraji P. Henson: Professional Life and Career

In 1996, Henson and her son moved to Los Angeles so she could pursue a professional acting career.

Taraji P. Henson had just $700 in her bank account at the time. After two years of auditioning while also working an office job to make ends meet, Henson landed her first professional acting gig on Smart Guy.

In 2001, she got her big break in the film Baby boy. Her performance led to the role of Shug in Hustle and Flow and in 2008 she earned an Oscar nomination for her part in The Curious Case of Benjamin Button.

She also starred in the Television drama Person of Interest from 2011 to 2013. In 2015, Henson took on the role of Cookie Lyon in the hit series Empire, earning a Golden Globe for the part.

In 2015, Taraji P. Henson the Critics Choice Television Award for Best Actress in a Drama Series (for Empire), and became the first black actor in the history of the awards show to do so. Similarly, in 2016 Henson received another Emmy nomination for her leading role as Cookie.

Taraji has played in many Television and films. Some of the famous Tv Shows she played are  Smart Guy (1997-1998), Sister, Sister (1997), ER (1998), Murder She Wrote: The Last Freeman (2001), Season of love (2014), Empire (2015-present), Ice Age: The Great Egg-Escapade (2016), The Simpsons (2017) and many more.

And some of the films she played are Streetwise (1998), The Adventures of Rocky and Bullwinkle (2000), Satan’s School for Girls (2000), Baby Boy (2001), Book of Love: The Definitive Reason Why Men Are Dogs (2002), Hair Show (2004), Hustle & Flow (2005),  Animal (2005), Something New (2006), Talk to me (2007), The Karate Kid (2010), Taken from me: The Tiffany Rubin Story(2011), Laugh at My Pain (2011), Acrimony (2017) and many more.

What is the net worth of Taraji P. Henson?

Taraji P. Henson’s Net worth as of 2022 is $6 million.

Is Taraji P. Henson involved in any rumors and controversies?

There has been rumored that Empire co-star Terrence and Taraji Henson fought behind the scenes of the Empire TV show.

Taraji asked “where did that rumor come from that Terrance and I are feuding?” adding: ‘I fought to have him on the show.

We’ve known each other for 10 years and have worked together before. why would I fight someone I fought for?’

Taraji P. Henson: Body Measurements

Taraji P. Henson has a good height of 5 feet 4 inches. She has a good weight of 60kg.

She has black hair color and her eye color is dark brown. Henson has a well-shaped body of 38-28-37 inches.

Her bra size is 34D, her shoe size is 7US and her dress size is 12US.

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Taraji P. Henson's Birthday Dates