Taraji P. Henson: The STAR Within the Star

From a Pizza Delivery Girl to Empire’s Queen—Her Journey is Just Getting Started

Here's a fun little secret from the Hollywood vault: Taraji P. Henson didn’t just breeze into stardom on a red carpet – she had to morph into a pizza delivery girl to fund her acting dreams. Yes, you heard that right! Picture young Taraji in a smock, flipping pizzas instead of audition scripts, all while dreaming of Oscar nominations and Golden Globe speeches in between deliveries. What a delicious combination, right?

The Golden Globe Glory (and Some Serious Competition)

+0,02

▶

In 2016, Henson strutted her way to winning the Golden Globe Award for Best Actress in a Television Series Drama for her brilliant role as Cookie Lyon in Empire. Not only was she dazzling, but she also became the third African-American actress to snatch that honor. Can we just take a moment to appreciate how she made history (and perhaps made everyone else feel a little underdressed)? It was all about glamour, grit, and a pinch of fabulousness. But amidst all the glamorous chaos, can you imagine the fierce competition at those awards? It’s like trying to pick the best slice of pizza!

From Screen to Stage: The Upcoming Broadway Debut

+0,02

▶

As if winning awards and captivating audiences wasn’t enough, Taraji is set to make her Broadway debut in 2026 as Bertha Holly in Joe Turner's Come and Gone. Yes, you read that right. This woman is literally taking her talent from the screen to the stage! What can’t she do? Maybe host a talk show, oh wait, she already did that with Peace of Mind with Taraji. I’m starting to suspect she might be a superhero disguised as an actress.

Unwavering Advocacy for Mental Health

+0,02

▶

Not only does she steal scenes, but Taraji also steals hearts with her passion for mental health advocacy. Inspired by her late father, she established The Boris Lawrence Henson Foundation to combat the stigma surrounding mental illness in the African-American community. Who knew the same person who made us laugh and cry on screen could also move mountains off it? She’s like a double-shot of espresso—both invigorating and inspiring!

Three 6 Mafia and OSCAR-level Antics

Oh, and let’s not forget how Henson made waves at the Oscars in 2006 when she starred in Hustle & Flow and sang alongside Three 6 Mafia for their Academy Award-winning track "It's Hard out Here for a Pimp." It’s not every day you see a strong, elegant woman sharing the stage with a hip-hop group while winning an Oscar. Who else could pull that off? It’s as if she tapped into some hidden magic that night, where glam, grit, and talent collided!