Top 10 Amazing Facts About Taraji p. Henson

Taraji P. Henson. Photo by The Heart Truth. Wikimedia Commons

Top 10 Amazing Facts about Taraji p. Henson

Henson is a popular American actress born on the 11^th of September 1970 in Southwest Washington, D.C. She is the descendant of Boris Lawrence Henson her father, and Bernice her mother. She gave birth to a son named Marcell in 1994 and later his father, William Lamarr Johnson was murdered in 2003. She had a passion for acting at a young age and to date, she is a force to be celebrated in the industry. Her passion and interest to pursue her dreams of acting saw her attend Howard University where she studied drama before relocating to Los Angeles to pursue her career. She rose to prominence from a role she played in the film “Baby Boy” in 2001. Over the years she has earned several accolades and received global acknowledgment for her fascinating talent and work of art. She was the first black actress in history to win the Critics’ Choice Television Award for Best Actress in the drama series called Empire in 2015. In this article, we will explore the top ten amazing facts about Taraji p. Henson and her influence on the entertainment industry.

1. She Got her Breakthrough in 2001 with the Movie “Baby Boy”

Taraji P. Henson. Photo by Kristin Dos Santos. Wikimedia Commons

Henson began her acting career at a very young age and joined Howard University to study acting. It is from the university where she began her successful career in acting in numerous television shows. However, she rose to prominence in 2001 when she played the role of Yvette in the film Baby Boy. The movie is a comedy–drama film that was produced and directed by John Singleton. Henson starred in the movie together with other celebrities including Tyrese Gibson and Snoop Dogg among others.

Also see: 10 Most Famous people from Washington, D.C.

2. The father to Her Son Marcel was Murdered in 2003

Henson has a son named Marcel who she gave birth to back in 1994. She had a son with his long-time high-school sweetheart named William LarMarr Johnson. However, the two high-school love birds never got married even after siring a son together. William faced a tragic death in 2003 when he was repeatedly stabbed in a dispute with another couple.

3. Her parents separated and she was Raised by her Grandmother

Taraji P. Henson was not lucky enough to grow up with both parents in marriage. The two parents divorced when she was young and this also saw her grow with her grandmother. However, even after the divorce of her parents, her father was her biggest supporter and inspiration. He was there all along for her but he also had life challenges which included being homeless and serving in the military. Despite the challenges he was going through, he always encouraged her daughter to follow her dreams and become the best of herself.

4. She has been an Advocate for the LGBTQ+ Community

Taraji P. Henson. Photo by NASA/Aubrey Gemignani. Wikimedia Commons

Henson has been at the forefront of the fight and campaign for marriage equality. She is very vocal against violence and discrimination against the LGBTQ+ community. She is a member of a non-profit organization that promotes gender rights, marriage, and human equality. She advocates for the end of homophobia and creates awareness of the rights of the LGBTQ+ community. She has also come out openly to advocate for mental health awareness as well as talk about her struggles with anxiety and depression.

5. Henson had Initially Chosen another Career Path

At the beginning of her study career, she attended the North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University where she was to study electrical engineering. However, she struggled through that career path and things did not work out as expected. Her interest and passion for acting drove her to Howard University where she studied drama. To raise her college fee she worked in the morning and the evening hours. In the morning she worked as a secretary at The Pentagon and in the evening hours as a singing–dancing waitress.

Check out: 30 Most Famous Black Female Actresses

6. She gave birth to her son While in College

Henson gave birth to her son Marcel while she was just a junior in college. She found out that she was pregnant while she was pursuing her studies in drama at the college with her high- school sweetheart William LarMarr Johnson. However, this did not shut her down as she was determined to achieve her goals and live her dreams. She kept pushing and going to her classes and even performed very well while she was still pregnant. She was able to give birth to her son in 1994 and graduated the following year with a degree.

7. She is a Renowned Actress who has won numerous Awards

Taraji P. Henson. Photo by Tomdog. Wikimedia Commons

Taraji is a true icon in the entertainment industry and her outstanding talent has not gone unnoticed. She has been awarded several accolades and nominated for several awards. She was nominated for ‘Best Actress in a Television Series Drama’ in 2005. In 2011, she starred in the movie Taken from Me: The Tiffany Rubin Story which earned her numerous awards including Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Miniseries or a Movie.She has also won other nominations and awards over the years.

8. Taraji is also a Revered Singer and released her first single in 2009

Taraji p. Henson has made a name for herself in the entertainment industry from her fascinating talent in acting and singing. She released her first single in 2009 titled “I Can Do Bad All By Myself”. However, she made her first singing debut in the film Hustle & Flow which won an Academy Award and was nominated for the award twice.  She continues to fascinate the world with her melodious voice and heart-warming performance.

9. She has appeared in Several Movies and Television Shows

Taraji P. Henson. Photo by NASA/Bill Ingalls. Wikimedia Commons

Henson is a renowned actress who has made several appearances in movies and television shows. Some of the famous films that she appeared in include The Good Doctor, Think Like a Man, and Kelvin Hart: laugh at My pain among others. Some of the television shows that she has appeared in include Carpool Karaoke: The Series, That’s My Jam, and Project Runway among others.

10. She is the Founder of the Boris Lawrence Henson Foundation

Taraji founded the Boris Lawrence Henson Foundation in 2018. The main aim of the foundation is to provide mental wellness services to African American communities. She is very outspoken and advocates for mental health awareness following her struggles with depression and anxiety. The foundation has a mission of improving the mental health in black communities by carrying out education across the country and building culturally –competent programs and resources.

Taraji p. Henson is a name that need no much of an introduction for her incredible talent and magnificent performances. She has also gone out of her way to create mental health awareness and help African American Communities.