Taraji P. Henson

American actress

Born: September 11, 1970

Famous Persons

Who is Taraji P. Henson?

Taraji Penda Henson ( tə-RAH-jee; born September 11, 1970) is an American actress, producer, author, and mental health advocate. After studying acting at Howard University, she made her film debut in the crime film Streetwise (1998). Henson gained recognition for playing a prostitute in Hustle & Flow (2005) and as nursing home caretaker, Queenie, in David Fincher's The Curious Case of Benjamin Button (2008). In 2016, she portrayed mathematician Katherine Johnson in Hidden Figures. She has also acted in Baby Boy (2001), The Karate Kid (2010), Think Like a Man (2012), Acrimony (2018), What Men Want (2019), The Best of Enemies (2019), and The Color Purple (2023). Henson has also had an extensive career in television. From 2011 to 2013, she co-starred as Joss Carter in the CBS drama series Person of Interest.

Historical significance

Her accolades include a Golden Globe Award, alongside nominations for an Academy Award, six Emmy Awards, and a Tony Award. In 2016 and 2024, Time named Henson one of the 100 most influential people in the world. The latter earned her a nomination for the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress.

Sources and further reading

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MLA

“Taraji P. Henson.” thisDay, thisday.info/people/taraji-p-henson/. Accessed 26 Oct. 2026.

APA

Taraji P. Henson. (n.d.). thisDay. Retrieved October 26, 2026, from https://thisday.info/people/taraji-p-henson/

Chicago

“Taraji P. Henson.” thisDay. Accessed October 26, 2026. https://thisday.info/people/taraji-p-henson/.

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