Bio
Taraji P. Henson is an American actress and singer best known for her roles as Yvette in the feature film Baby Boy (2001), and as Whitney Rome in the television dramedy Boston Legal, from 2007-2008.
She also starred as Detective Carter in the crime drama television series Person of Interest, from 2011-2013.
Henson earned an Academy Award nomination for Best Supporting Actress for her performance in David Fincher's The Curious Case of Benjamin Button, in which she starred opposite Brad Pitt. She is a 2011 Emmy Award nominee for Best Actress in a Movie or Mini-Series in Taken From Me: The Tiffany Rubin Story.
She co-starred with star and director Tom Hanks in Larry Crowne alongside Julia Roberts and Cedric the Entertainer. She starred in the successful Karate Kid, opposite Jaden Smith and Jackie Chan, and in Date Night, with Tina Fey and Steve Carrell.
For her performance in Tyler Perry's I Can Do Bad All By Myself, Henson received the 2009 Diversity Award for Best Actress.
She can also be seen in Peep World, starring as Rainn Wilson's love interest; The Good Doctor, with Orlando Bloom; and Once Fallen, co-starring Ed Harris.
Henson also appears in the bio-pic From the Rough, in which she stars as the first female head coach of an NCAA Division I men's golf team.
Henson received rave reviews for her role in Talk to Me, opposite Don Cheadle, and co-starred in the ensemble action drama Smokin' Aces with Ben Affleck and Alicia Keys.
She was named Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Feature Film by the Black Movie Awards and received the BET Best Actress nod for her performance as Shug in the drama, Hustle & Flow, also starring Terrence Howard.
She starred in Not Easily Broken opposite Morris Chestnut, Hurricane Season opposite Forest Whitaker, and Tyler Perry's The Family That Preys with Kathy Bates.
Henson made her singing debut in Hustle & Flow and performed the Academy Award-winning song, It's Hard Out Here for a Pimp, on the Oscar telecast.
She reunited for the third time with John Singleton to film Four Brothers with Mark Wahlberg and Andre 3000. Henson co-starred with Simon Baker and Sanaa Lathan in Something New. She is well remembered for her role in Baby Boy as Yvette, opposite Tyrese.
Henson was a series regular on David E. Kelly's Boston Legal and recurred on Eli Stone. She was featured in Jamie Foxx's music video, Just Like Me, and also appeared in Estelle's video, Pretty Please.
Born and raised in Washington, D.C., the Howard University graduate resides in Los Angeles with her son. Henson has a strong dedication to helping disabled and less fortunate children.
Taraji is a spokesperson for PETA's I'd Rather Go Naked Than Wear Fur campaign, which launched in February 2011.
She also has a starring role as Cookie Lyon, Lucious' outspoken ex-wife and mother of his three sons, who served a 17-year stretch in prison for drug dealing, in the musical drama television series Empire.