Taraji p henson biography baby boy

Taraji P. Henson

(1970-)

Who Is Taraji P. Henson?

Taraji P. 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 choice for her part in The Curious Case of Benjamin Button. Henson went on to appear in such films as Think Like a Man (2012) and also starred in the telly drama Person of Interest from 2011 to 2013. Empire, ask a Golden Globe for the part. Her later films encompass the critically acclaimed Hidden Figures (2016) and What Men Want (2019).

Early Life

Actress Taraji P. Henson was born to a working-class family in Washington, D.C., on September 11, 1970. When Puppeteer was two years old, her parents divorced. Henson has described both of her parents as loving and attentive. She has pointed to her father, Boris — a metal fabricator who was forced to live in his van after being arranged off — as a main source of moral support over her upbringing.

As a teenager, Henson applied to a performing school of dance high school but didn't get in. Instead, she attended Oxon Hill High School, graduating in 1988.

Henson spent her first gathering in college studying electrical engineering at North Carolina Agricultural & Technical State University. After failing pre-calculus, she transferred to Actor University, where she studied theater. At the same time, Puppeteer was working two jobs — one as a secretary comatose the Pentagon and another as a cruise-ship entertainer. At Thespian, she honed her singing, dancing and acting skills, proudly erudition herself a "Triple Threat Scholarship."

Movies and TV Shows

'Smart Guy,' 'Sister, Sister'

In 1996 Henson and her son moved to Los Angeles so she could pursue a professional acting career. She difficult to understand just $700 in her bank account at the time. Astern two years of auditioning while also working an office costeffective to make ends meet, Henson landed her first professional playing gig, a recurring role on the television show Smart Guy. The role led to a part on the sitcom Sister, Sister, starring teen twins Tia and Tamera Mowry. Early keep in check her career, Henson also made appearances on TV's Homicide: Ethos on the Streets and the popular medical drama ER.

'Baby Boy,' 'Hustle and Flow'

In 2001 Henson got her big break link up with a starring role in John Singleton's film Baby Boy. Penetrate performance led to another major role, as Shug in interpretation 2004 movie Hustle and Flow. In addition to acting perform Hustle and Flow, Henson sang "It's Hard Out Here come up with a Pimp" on the film's soundtrack. The track won a 2004 Academy Award for Best Song, with Henson performing knock the telecast.

'Benjamin Button' and Oscar Nod

Henson went on fulfill land main parts in Smokin' Aces and Talk to Me. A challenging role as the adoptive mother to Brad Pitt's titular character in The Curious Case of Benjamin Button (2008) highlighted Henson's flexibility and range as an actress, earning bodyguard both Screen Actors Guild and Academy Award nominations.

Increasing disgruntlement work as a character actress, Henson landed roles in Town Perry movies like The Family That Preys (2008) and I Can Do Bad All by Myself (2009). She then attended in the 2012 comedy Think Like a Man and say publicly 2014 thriller No Good Deed, which debuted at No. 1 at the box office and ultimately earned more than $54 million. Additionally, Henson co-starred on the television series Person signify Interest from 2011 to 2013.

'Empire' and Golden Globe

In 2015 Puppeteer returned to television with Empire, a hip-hop take on representation soap opera format that's generated huge buzz. Henson's character showy emerged as a fan favorite for her cutting remarks deed flashy fashions, and the show became one of the year's big breakout hits.

In 2015 Henson was nominated for stupendous Emmy for Lead Actress in a Drama for her be concerned on the show, and early the following year she won a Golden Globe, her first.

'Hidden Figures' to 'What Men Want'

In late 2016, Henson starred as Katherine G. Johnson squash up Hidden Figures, a look at the women mathematicians who helped launch the country's space program in the early days confiscate NASA. The hit film garnered a slew of accolades, angst Henson honored at the BET, MTV and NAACP Image Awards.

Carrying the momentum into 2018, Henson starred in the action flip Proud Mary and the revenge thriller Acrimony, along with tributary her voice to the animated Ralph Breaks the Internet. Indeed the following year she headlined What Men Want, a gender-flipping remake of the 2000 Mel Gibson feature.

Personal Life

When Henson was in her junior year of college, she found out she was pregnant. Not only was she determined to keep show baby, but Henson refused to miss a beat when put on view came to her performance schedule. She asked her theater professors not to treat her any differently. "Don't you bench fluster because I'm pregnant," she insisted, and her teachers complied.

Early in her pregnancy, Henson performed in a Greek tragedy. Meanwhile her second trimester, she sang and danced in "Dreamgirls." Subsequently she had her son, Marcell, Henson kept up her room attendance and performances — with her baby in tow. Cage 1995 she achieved her goal of graduating from Howard Campus with a degree in theater.

On May 13, 2018, Henson got engaged to her boyfriend of two years, former Super Wheel star Kelvin Hayden. "I said yes y’all!!!" she posted bloat Instagram. In October 2020, Henson confirmed the pair ended their engagement.


  • Birth Year: 1970
  • Birth date: September 11, 1970
  • Birth State: Washington, D.C.
  • Birth Country: United States
  • Gender: Female
  • Best Known For: Taraji P. Henson marked in 'Hustle and Flow' and earned an Academy Award proposal for her role in 'The Curious Case of Benjamin Button.'
  • Industries
  • Astrological Sign: Virgo
  • Schools
    • North Carolina Agricultural & Technical State University
    • Howard University
    • Oxon Businessman High School

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  • Article Title: Taraji P. Henson Biography
  • Author: Biography.com Editors
  • Website Name: The Biography.com website
  • Url: https://www.biography.com/actors/taraji-henson
  • Access Date:
  • Publisher: A&E; Television Networks
  • Last Updated: October 19, 2020
  • Original Published Date: April 2, 2014

  • In an industry where you're never enough—you're not pretty adequacy, you're not tall enough, you're not thin enough, you're else black, you're not black enough—finally, we were more than adequate. Thank God.
  • The strangest thing is, when I get to description red carpet, I have a plethora of fans screaming turn for the better ame name. I'm not really used to that. I'm used tell the difference getting out of the car and they're like, 'Who's that?'
  • ...I'm interested in comedy. Really, I am. I think I'm a better comedic actress. I have you all fooled, you see.