September 11 …

Taraji P. Henson is an American actress, producer, author, and mental-health advocate whose performances across film, television, and theater have made her a defining presence in 21st-century American entertainment and culture.

Born September 11, 1970 in Washington, DC, Henson grew up in a working-class family and attended Oxon Hill High School before briefly studying at North Carolina A&T State University. She later transferred to Howard University, where she graduated in 1995 with a BFA in theater while also raising her son.

Henson’s formative years and training, including stage work at Howard and the unwavering support from her mother, Bernice, and grandmother, Patsy Ballard, instilled in her a resilience that informed her emotionally resonant performances — hallmarks of her career.

Henson has said that North Pole explorer Matthew Henson was her great-great-grandfather’s brother.

Henson’s achievements encompass a range of critically acclaimed, box office, and culturally significant roles. Her early breakout performances in Baby Boy and Hustle & Flow paved the way for an Academy Award nomination for The Curious Case of Benjamin Button and Emmy nominations for Taken from Me and Empire, for which she won a Golden Globe for her iconic portrayal of Cookie Lyon.

Henson played Katherine Johnson in Hidden Figures, a film that elevated awareness of Black women’s contributions to American space history. Additionally, she has continued to lead and produce projects across film and television, including her roles in The Color Purple and in the voice and live musical performance of Annie Live!.

Her influences and mentors include her Howard University professors and early collaborators in the industry. Directors like Robert Townsend and John Singleton provided her with key opportunities, while she has worked alongside peers such as Terrence Howard, Viola Davis, Octavia Spencer, and Janelle Monáe.

Although she does not maintain a formal mentoring program, Henson supports younger performers through visibility, public encouragement, and professional partnerships. She draws inspiration from the strength of the Black women she portrays and admires influential figures like Denzel Washington and Angela Bassett.

Henson’s accolades reflect both industry and community commendation. Her honors include a Golden Globe Award for Best Actress in a Television Series, multiple NAACP Image Awards, a Critics’ Choice Television Award, a Screen Actors Guild ensemble win for Hidden Figures, and a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame in 2019. She has also been named one of Time’s 100 Most Influential People in 2016 and 2024, and received honorary recognition as NAACP Entertainer of the Year.

Moreover, Taraji P. Henson founded the Boris Lawrence Henson Foundation, aimed at tackling mental health stigma in the Black community, extending her cultural impact beyond her performances.