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Taraji P. Henson

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Taraji P. Henson: Biography

Taraji P Henson

Birth Name: Taraji Penda Henson
Birth Place: Washington, DC
Date of Birth / Zodiac Sign: 09/11/1970, Virgo
Profession: Actor

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Taraji P. Henson Fast Facts:

Originally pursued an electrical engineering degree at North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University, but switched to acting---and to Howard University---after failing pre-calculus.
Worked her way through Howard as a Pentagon receptionist by day and a singing/dancing waitress on a dinner cruise at night.
Began landing TV work in the late 1990s, first with small parts on ER and Smart Guy, and later with recurring roles on The Division and Boston Legal.
Breakout role came with hip-hop drama Hustle & Flow (2005), in which she played the prostitute Shug and performed the Oscar-winning song "It's Hard Out Here for a Pimp."
Hustle role brought Henson to the attention of the casting director for David Fincher's The Curious Case of Benjamin Button (2008), in which Henson gave an acclaimed performance as the title character's adopted mother, Queenie.

Taraji P. Henson Relationships:
William Lamar Johnson - Ex-significant Other
Marcell - Son
Boris Henson - Father
Bernice Gordon - Mother
Taraji P. Henson Awards:
2008 Screen Actors Guild Awards: Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Drama Series - Nominee
2007 Screen Actors Guild Awards: Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Drama Series - Nominee
2005 Screen Actors Guild Awards: Outstanding Performance by a Cast in a Motion Picture - Nominee
2011 Emmy: Outstanding Lead Actress in a Miniseries or a Movie - Nominee
2008 Oscar: Best Performance by an Actress in a Supporting Role - Nominee
2008 Screen Actors Guild Awards: Outstanding Performance by a Cast in a Motion Picture - Nominee
2008 Screen Actors Guild Awards: Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Supporting Role - Nominee
College:
Attended North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University, Greensboro, NC; Howard University, Washington, DC (BA in Fine Arts, 1995)

Photos

54th Annual Grammy Awards 2012, Taraji P. Henson Steve Granitz/WireImage.com

Taraji P. Henson Theo Wargo/WireImage.com

Taraji P. Henson Steve Granitz/WireImage.com

Taraji P. Henson Mike Coppola/Getty Images

Taraji P. Henson John Shearer/WireImage.com

Taraji P. Henson Jacob Andrzejczak/WireImage.com

more Taraji P. Henson photos (55 total photos)

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