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Taraji P. Henson Biography

Birth Name:Taraji Penda Henson

Birth Place:Washington, District of Columbia, United States

Profession Actress, Producer, Soundtrack, Director

Fast Facts

Won the 2008 Austin Film Critics Association Award for best supporting actress
Honored at the 2017 Heroes in the Struggle Awards Gala for supporting efforts to fight HIV/AIDS
Attended North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University and later graduated from Howard University with a degree in theater in 1995
Worked as a Pentagon secretary and as a singing and dancing waitress on a dinner cruise before becoming an actress
Quote: "'Politically correct' is really B․S․ It's not the truth․ You're forming it in the way so that you don't offend anybody․ Well, I'd rather deal with the truth ․․․ I'd rather know if you like me or not ․․․ Then I know what I'm dealing with!"
Quote: "[on "Hustle and Flow"] "In an industry where you're never enough - you're not pretty enough, you're not tall enough, you're not thin enough, you're too black, you're not black enough - finally, we were more than enough․ Thank God․""
Participated in the "I'd Rather Be Naked Than Wear Fur" campaigns for PETA
Participated in the 2010 Ford Freedom's Sisters luncheon, which honors African American women who have fought for equality
Provided the vocals for the title track to the film "Hustle & Flow," which won an Academy Award for Best Original Song
Supported the organizations A Place Called Home and The Heart Truth

Awards

2001Special Mention-: winner
2002Black Reel-Theatrical - Best Actress: nominated
2005Black Movie Award-Outstanding Performance by an Actress in a Supporting Role: winner
2005WAFCA Award-Best Supporting Actress: nominated
2006Actor-Outstanding Performance by a Cast in a Motion Picture: nominated
2006BET Award-Best Actress: winner
2006Black Reel-Best Supporting Actress: winner
2006Image Award-Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Motion Picture: nominated
2006MTV Movie Award-Best Kiss: nominated
2006MTV Movie Award-Best Breakthrough Performance: nominated
2006OFTA Film Award-Best Music, Original Song: nominated
2007Gotham Independent Film Award-Best Ensemble Performance: winner
2007Satellite Award-Best Actress in a Supporting Role, Drama: nominated
2007SLFCA Award-Best Supporting Actress: nominated
2008Actor-Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Drama Series: nominated
2008EDA Award-Best Supporting Actress: nominated
2008AFCA Award-Best Supporting Actress: winner
2008ACCA-Best Actress in a Supporting Role: nominated
2008ACCA-Best Cast Ensemble: nominated
2008Black Reel-Best Supporting Actress: nominated
2008DFWFCA Award-Best Supporting Actress: nominated
2008Golden Schmoes-Best Supporting Actress of the Year: nominated
2008HFCS Award-Best Supporting Actress: nominated
2008Image Award-Outstanding Actress in a Motion Picture: nominated
2008SLFCA Award-Best Supporting Actress: nominated
2009Oscar-Best Performance by an Actress in a Supporting Role: nominated
2009Actor-Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Supporting Role: nominated
2009Actor-Outstanding Performance by a Cast in a Motion Picture: nominated
2009Actor-Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Drama Series: nominated
2009BET Award-Best Actress: winner
2009Critics Choice Award-Best Supporting Actress: nominated
2009Critics Choice Award-Best Acting Ensemble: nominated
2009Gold Derby Film Award-Ensemble Cast: nominated
2009Image Award-Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Motion Picture: winner
2009IOMA-Best Supporting Actress (Miglior attrice non protagonista): nominated
2009MTV Movie Award-Best Female Performance: nominated
2010BET Award-Best Actress: nominated
2010Black Reel-Best Actress: nominated
2010CinEuphoria-Best Supporting Actress - International Competition: winner
2010Image Award-Outstanding Actress in a Motion Picture: nominated
2011BET Award-Best Actress: winner
2011Gold Derby TV Award-TV Movie/Mini Lead Actress: nominated
2011OFTA Television Award-Best Actress in a Motion Picture or Miniseries: nominated
2011Primetime Emmy-Outstanding Lead Actress in a Miniseries or Movie: nominated
2011Satellite Award-Best Actress in a Miniseries or a Motion Picture Made for Television: nominated
2011WIN Award-Actress Made For TV Movie / Mini Series: nominated
2012BET Award-Best Actress: nominated
2012Black Reel-Outstanding Television or Mini-Series Performance, Female: winner
2012Image Award-Outstanding Actress in a Television Movie, Mini-Series or Dramatic Special: winner
2012Image Award-Outstanding Actress in a Drama Series: nominated
2013BET Award-Best Actress: nominated
2013IGN Award-Best TV Hero: nominated
2013Image Award-Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Motion Picture: nominated
2014Image Award-Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Drama Series: winner
2015BET Award-Best Actress: winner
2015Critics' Choice TV Award-Best Actress in a Drama Series: winner
2015Gold Derby TV Award-Drama Lead Actress: nominated
2015Image Award-Outstanding Actress in a Motion Picture: winner
2015INOCA TV-Best Actress in a Drama Series: winner
2015OFTA Television Award-Best Actress in a Drama Series: winner
2015Primetime Emmy-Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama Series: nominated
2015Teen Choice Award-Choice TV: Chemistry: nominated
2015Teen Choice Award-Choice TV Actress: Drama: nominated
2015TCA Award-Individual Achievement in Drama: nominated
2016ACCA-Best Cast Ensemble: nominated
2016BET Award-Best Actress: winner
2016Critics' Choice TV Award-Best Actress in a Drama Series: nominated
2016Dorian Award-TV Performance of the Year - Actress: winner
2016FFCC Award-Best Ensemble: nominated
2016Golden Globe-Best Performance by an Actress in a Television Series - Drama: winner
2016Image Award-Outstanding Actress in a Drama Series: winner
2016IFJA Award-Best Actress: nominated
2016Sierra Award-Best Actress: nominated
2016Sierra Award-Best Ensemble: winner
2016NBR Award-Best Ensemble: winner
2016OFTA Television Award-Best Actress in a Drama Series: nominated
2016PFCS Award-Best Ensemble Acting: nominated
2016Primetime Emmy-Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama Series: nominated
2016SDFCS Award-Best Ensemble: nominated
2016Satellite Award-Best Actress in a Series, Drama: nominated
2016Teen Choice Award-Choice TV Actress: Drama: nominated
2016WFCC Award-Best Actress: nominated
2016WFCC Award-Women's Work/Best Ensemble: winner
2017Saturn Award-Best Actress: nominated
2017Actor-Outstanding Performance by a Cast in a Motion Picture: winner
2017BET Award-Best Actress: winner
2017Black Reel-Outstanding Actress, Motion Picture: nominated
2017Black Reel-Outstanding Actress, Drama Series: nominated
2017GAFCA Award-Best Ensemble: nominated
2017Gold Derby Film Award-Ensemble Cast: nominated
2017Image Award-Outstanding Actress in a Motion Picture: winner
2017Image Award-Outstanding Actress in a Drama Series: winner
2017MTV Movie + TV Award-Best Hero: winner
2017MTV Movie + TV Award-Best Kiss: nominated
2017MTV Movie + TV Award-Best Actor in a Movie: nominated
2017OFTA Film Award-Best Ensemble: nominated
2017Ensemble Cast Award-: winner
2017Satellite Award-Best Actress in a Motion Picture: nominated
2017Teen Choice Award-Choice Movie Actress: Drama: nominated
2018BET Award-Best Actress: nominated
2018Black Reel-Outstanding Actress, Drama Series: nominated
2018Image Award-Outstanding Actress in a Drama Series: winner
2019BET Award-Best Actress: nominated
2019Black Reel-Outstanding Voice Performance: nominated
2019HFCS Award-Best Vocal/Motion Capture Performance: nominated
2019Image Award-Outstanding Actress in a Drama Series: winner
2019National Film and Television Award-Best Actress: nominated
2019Invisible Woman Award-: nominated
2021Daytime Emmy-Outstanding Informative Talk Show Host: nominated
2022Daytime Emmy-Outstanding Informative Talk Show Host: nominated
2022Image Award-Outstanding Actress in a Television Movie, Limited Series or Dramatic Special: winner
2022WFCC Award-Best Animated Female: nominated
2023Ensemble Award-: winner
2023Gold Derby TV Award-Comedy Guest Actress: winner
2023Image Award-Outstanding Character Voice-Over Performance (Motion Picture): nominated
2023Blimp Award-Favorite Voice From an Animated Movie (Female): nominated
2023OFTA Television Award-Best Guest Actress in a Comedy Series: nominated
2023Primetime Emmy-Outstanding Guest Actress in a Comedy Series: nominated
2024Movies for Grownups Award-Best Supporting Actress: nominated
2024Actor-Outstanding Performance by a Cast in a Motion Picture: nominated
2024Astra TV Award-Best Guest Actress in a Comedy Series: nominated
2024Black Reel-Outstanding Supporting Performance: nominated
2024Black Reel-Outstanding Guest Performance in a Comedy Series: winner
2024Image Award-Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Motion Picture: winner
2025Black Reel-Outstanding Supporting Performance in a TV Movie or Limited Series: nominated
2025Gotham TV Award-Outstanding Supporting Performance in a Limited Series: nominated
2025Image Award-Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Limited Television (Series, Special, or Movie): winner