Taraji P. Henson earned an Academy Award nomination for Best Supporting Actress opposite Brad Pitt in David Fincher\u2019s \u201cThe Curious Case of Benjamin Button.\u201d She is a 2011 Emmy-nominee for Best Actress in a Movie or Miniseries for Lifetime\u2019s \u201cTaken From Me.\u201d Henson also starred as Detective Joss Carter in the highly-rated CBS crime drama \u201cPerson of Interest.\u201d She was a series regular on \u201cBoston Legal\u201d and enjoyed a recurring role on \u201cEli Stone.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
On the big screen, she starred in the box office hit \u201cThink Like A Man,\u201d as well as in its upcoming sequel, \u201cThink Like A Man, Too.\u201d In September, she\u2019ll be starring opposite Idris Elba in \u201cNo Good Deed.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
In addition, she received rave reviews for her work in \u201cHustle & Flow\u201d making her singing debut performing the Academy Award-winning song \u201cIt\u2019s Hard out Here for a Pimp\u201d on the Oscar telecast.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Henson is well remembered for her role as Yvette opposite Tyrese in \u201cBaby Boy,\u201d and collaborated with director John Singleton a third time on \u201cFour Brothers.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Born and raised in Washington, D.C., the Howard University graduate resides in Los Angeles with her son, Marcel. She dedicates much of her spare time to helping disabled and less fortunate children.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Here, she talks about her new film, \u201cFrom the Rough,\u201d an inspirational biopic where she portrays Catana Starks, the African-American trailblazer who became the first female to coach an NCAA Division-I men\u2019s team when she accepted the reins of the golf squad at Tennessee State University.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Kam Williams:<\/strong> Hi Taraji, thanks for the interview.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Taraji P. Henson: Oh, no worries, Kam.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n KW:<\/strong> What interested you in this film?<\/p>\n\n\n\n TPH: Well, first of all, I\u2019d never seen a movie about a female coach before, outside of that Goldie Hawn comedy from years ago, \u201cWildcats.\u201d And I had certainly never seen an African-American woman portrayed this way in a drama. That was the first thing that interested me. Then, when I read the script, I went, \u201cWow, what an amazing story.\u201d She had all the odds stacked against her, yet she and her team won. And it was all because of the tenacity and belief and passion that she instilled in her players.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n KW:<\/strong> I had never heard of Catana Starks before seeing this film. Why do you think she\u2019s so unheralded?<\/p>\n\n\n\n TPH: Honestly, I don\u2019t know. Maybe, because she didn\u2019t coach at an Ivy League or big name school, but at a historically-black university. That\u2019s another reason why I did the film. I felt the world needed to know about this woman, which is what we\u2019re trying to do now.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n KW:<\/strong> Editor Patricia Turnier asks, \u201cAre you an athletic person? In other words, what are the similarities and differences between you and Catana Starks?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n TPH: [Chuckles] I\u2019m not really an athlete, though I\u2019m quite capable of playing one on TV or film. I\u2019ve been to the driving range, and I do have good hand-eye coordination, but that\u2019s about it. I\u2019m not going to try to play basketball.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n KW:<\/strong> Patricia also asks, \u201cWhat does Catana Starks mean to you and how did you prepare for the role?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n TPH: She means the world to me, because she proved that you can accomplish anything in life as long as you believe, have faith and work hard. How did I prepare for the role? I spent a lot of time at the driving range and talking to Dr. Starks before filming. Because she wasn\u2019t a recognizable figure, I wasn\u2019t worried about walking or sounding like her, I just wanted to bring her essence to life. And that\u2019s all she was concerned about too.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n KW:<\/strong> Has she seen the film? What did she think of it?<\/p>\n\n\n\n TPH: Yes she has, and I think she\u2019s quite happy about it.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n KW:<\/strong> Patricia closes by saying, \u201cI really enjoyed your performance and your character, Lauren, in \u2018Think Like a Man.\u2019 I can\u2019t wait to see \u2018Think Like a Man Too\u2019 this summer. Is there anything you can share about the sequel without spoiling it?<\/p>\n\n\n\n TPH: We go to Vegas, and one of the couples is getting married, but I can\u2019t say who it is. It is hilarious. Some people say it\u2019s funnier than the first one. But you be the judge, Patricia.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n KW:<\/strong> Grace Sinden says \u201cYou\u2019ve had a successful career in movies and television. What aspect of your work has given you the greatest satisfaction?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n TPH: What gives me the greatest satisfaction is the number of people I can affect with my gift, with what I do. That\u2019s the most important thing to me, more important than any trophy or award.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n .<\/p>\n\n\n\n KW:<\/strong> Grace has a follow-up. \u201cDo you want your son to have a life in show business?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n TPH: I want him to find his own passion, whatever that is. I just want him to be happy and successful in whatever he decides to do.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n KW:<\/strong> Robin Beckham says, \u201cIt was recently reported that Jaden Smith and Jackie Chan are making a sequel to Karate Kid. Will you be rejoining the cast as Jaden\u2019s mother?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n TPH: I hope so, if that rumor\u2019s true.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n KW:<\/strong> Harriet Pakula-Teweles says, \u201cI\u2019m really sorry you got killed off on the TV show \u2018Person of Interest.\u2019 You work with ease in movies, music and TV. Which of these media is your favorite and how does it best show your talents?<\/p>\n\n\n\n TPH: I would have to say movies are my favorite. I love doing TV, too, but it\u2019s always rush, rush, rush. With a feature film, those moments and scenes get a chance to breathe, because you don\u2019t have to accomplish as much in one day.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n KW:<\/strong> Documentary filmmaker\/professor and author Hisani Dubose says \u201cNot many African-American actors have the juice to greenlight a project.\u201d She\u2019s wondering whether you are in a position to get a project that you like green-lighted?<\/p>\n\n\n\n TPH: I\u2019m getting there. Hopefully, the success of \u201cFrom the Rough\u201d will help, because you first have to prove that you\u2019re bankable at the box office, before you can green-light anything. So, I hope to have that kind of leverage after this film.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n KW:<\/strong> Could you say something controversial that would get this interview tweeted?<\/p>\n\n\n\n TPH: I don\u2019t know. I could say a lot of things.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n KW:<\/strong> When I asked Marlon Wayans that, he said, \u201cYeah, I could, but it might end my career.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n TPH: Yeah, totally. [Chuckles]<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n KW:<\/strong> The Sanaa Lathan question, what excites you?<\/p>\n\n\n\n TPH: Life. Just waking up everyday, and having another chance to get it right.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n KW:<\/strong> The bookworm Troy Johnson question, what was the last book you read?<\/p>\n\n\n\n TPH: \u201cI Declare\u201d by Joel Osteen.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n KW:<\/strong> The Kerry Washington question, if you were an animal, what animal would you be?<\/p>\n\n\n\n TPH: Probably a bird. I like anything with feathers that can fly.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n KW:<\/strong> The Anthony Anderson question, if you could have a superpower, which one would you choose?<\/p>\n\n\n\n TPH: I think I\u2019d like to be able to control the weather, like Storm (the character from the \u201cX-Men\u201d).<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n KW:<\/strong> The Anthony Mackie question, is there anything that you promised yourself you\u2019d do if you became famous, that you still haven\u2019t done yet?<\/p>\n\n\n\n TPH: Yes, visit Africa. I haven\u2019t done that yet.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n KW:<\/strong> Attorney Bernadette Beekman asks, \u201cWhat is your favorite charity?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n TPH: A charity that my best friend since 7th grade started called Art Creates Life. She raises money to take inner-city children to Africa. Isn\u2019t that crazy? I donate and I support that organization, but I\u2019ve never been to Africa myself. I\u2019ve sent a lot of kids there, though.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n KW:<\/strong> That\u2019s funny. The Melissa Harris-Perry question, \u201cHow did your first big heartbreak impact who you are as a person?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n TPH: It proved to me that what doesn\u2019t kill you makes you stronger.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n KW:<\/strong> The Viola Davis question, \u201cWhat\u2019s the biggest difference between who you are at home as opposed to the person we see on the red carpet?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n TPH: I\u2019m pretty much the same. I\u2019m consistent. There aren\u2019t two me\u2019s. There is only one me. I can only be myself, and that\u2019s who I always am whether I\u2019m at home or on the carpet.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n