Photo: Joel Kowsky / Public domain (source: Wikimedia Commons)
My Take
Taraji P. Henson strikes me as the rare actor whose presence outruns any script she's handed. I first noticed how she could make a supporting role feel like the center of the film, and the industry eventually caught up, with a Golden Globe and a shelf of BET and NAACP honors. What deepens my admiration is her off-screen work: a Howard graduate who turned her platform into mental health advocacy for communities that rarely get that conversation. Time put her on its most-influential list twice, and honestly, that feels overdue rather than generous. She earns every inch of the spotlight.
Overview
Taraji Penda Henson ( tə-RAH-jee; born September 11, 1970) is an American actress, producer, author, and mental health advocate. Her accolades include a Golden Globe Award, alongside nominations for an Academy Award, six Emmy Awards, and a Tony Award. In 2016 and 2024, Time named Henson one of the 100 most influential people in the world.
Summary adapted from Wikipedia, licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0.
1. Profile
- Name (English)
- Taraji P. Henson
- Name (Japanese)
- タラジ・P・ヘンソン
- Reading
- たらじ・P・へんそん
- Born
- September 11, 1970 (age 55)
- Zodiac / Chinese zodiac
- Virgo / Dog
- Origin
- Washington, D.C., United States
- Blood type
- Private
- Height
- Private
- Agency
- Private
- Occupation
- actor / singer / television actor / film actor / writer
2. Background
- Elementary school
- Private
- Junior high
- Private
- High school
- Oxon Hill High School
- University
- Howard University
Awards & achievements
- 2014 NAACP Image Award for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Drama Series
- 2012 NAACP Image Award for Outstanding Actress in a Television Movie, Mini-Series or Dramatic Special
- 2009 BET Award for Best Actor & Actress
- 2011 BET Award for Best Actor & Actress
- 2006 BET Award for Best Actor & Actress
- 2009 NAACP Image Award for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Motion Picture
- 2009 BET Award for Best Actor & Actress
- 2006 BET Award for Best Actor & Actress
3. Relationships
- Spouse
- Private
- Children
- Private
- Parents
- Private
- Siblings
- Private
4. Personality
Motto
Private
6. Links
Actor — see all → · Singer — see all → · More people from United States →
7. About this entry
Tags
- Last updated
- 2026-06-11
Facts are limited to publicly available information up to 2024; non-public items are marked "Private / Unknown". English text is machine-assisted (facts translated by Sonnet, "My Take" written by Opus 4.8). The Japanese page is the source of record.