Taraji P. Henson
Academy Award nominated, Emmy nominated, and Golden Globe-winning actor, filmmaker, and activist Taraji P. Henson quickly rose to fame after her breakout performance in the critically acclaimed film HUSTLE & FLOW. In 2020, Henson wrapped her iconic run as “Cookie Lyon” in Fox’s hit musical drama EMPIRE, which has earned her three Emmy nominations, a Golden Globe Award, a Critics Choice Award, and three BET Awards. Henson can recently be seen on the big screen starring in Blitz Bazawule’s THE COLOR PURPLE as Shug Avery. The Warner Bros. film is an adaptation of the Tony-winning Broadway musical, which is itself an adaptation of Alice Walker’s Pulitzer Prize-winning novel. She can also recently be heard lending her voice to MINIONS: THE RISE OF GRU as Belle Bottom. Henson also starred as Miss Hannigan in NBC’s Annie Live! in December of 2021, for which she won an NAACP award for Outstanding Actress in a Television Movie, Limited Series or Dramatic Special. In Fall 2018, she launched the Boris Lawrence Henson Foundation in honor of her late father. The organization provides scholarships to African-American students majoring in mental health, offers mental health services to youth in urban schools, and works to lower the recidivism rates of African-American men and women. Henson, along with her best friend and foundation partner, Tracie Jade, recently co-hosted the Facebook Watch series on mental health called PEACE OF MIND WITH TARAJI, for which they received a Daytime Emmy Award nomination for “Outstanding Informative Talk Show Host.”
-
Peace of Mind
As more Americans struggle with mental health challenges, Taraji P. Henson is here to put an end to stigmas and stereotypes about these conditions. Having long been open about her own struggles with depression and anxiety, she aims to make these discussions more commonplace. While these illnesses do not discriminate, the need for culturally competent practitioners is still urgent.
Her work includes starting the Boris Lawrence Henson Foundation which provides scholarships to African-American students who seek a career in the mental health field; offers mental health services and programs to young people in urban schools; and combats recidivism within the prison system. In December 2020, as multiple global crises inflicted trauma on millions, she created Peace of Mind, a talk show dedicated to healing and awareness.
In this powerful, interactive talk, she offers stories from her own mental health journey as well as a road map to a more compassionate and empathetic world.
-
Peace of Mind
As more Americans struggle with mental health challenges, Taraji P. Henson is here to put an end to stigmas and stereotypes about these conditions. Having long been open about her own struggles with depression and anxiety, she aims to make these discussions more commonplace. While these illnesses do not discriminate, the need for culturally competent practitioners is still urgent.
Her work includes starting the Boris Lawrence Henson Foundation which provides scholarships to African-American students who seek a career in the mental health field; offers mental health services and programs to young people in urban schools; and combats recidivism within the prison system. In December 2020, as multiple global crises inflicted trauma on millions, she created Peace of Mind, a talk show dedicated to healing and awareness.
In this powerful, interactive talk, she offers stories from her own mental health journey as well as a road map to a more compassionate and empathetic world.
See Taraji P. Henson in action.
Award winning actress is working for mental health awareness and peace of mind for all.
Taraji P. Henson is an Academy Award-nominated actor, producer, #1 New York Times bestselling author, mental health advocate, and entrepreneur, with a globally celebrated career that extends beyond the screen.
In March 2026, Henson made her Broadway debut in August Wilson’s “Joe Turner’s Come and Gone” opposite Cedric the Entertainer and directed by Debbie Allen. The play will run through July 26, 2026 at The Barrymore Theater in New York City. In 2024, her producorial efforts on the play “Jaja’s African Hair Braiding” earned her a Tony Award nomination for Best Play.
Also in 2026, Henson will reunite with longtime collaborator Tyler Pery and Netflix for two projects: the Perry directed Why Did I Get Married Again? and ‘Tis So Sweet, directed by Tasha Smith. Also on the horizon, is TV adaptation of 50 Cent’s novel The Accomplice. The series, which was picked up by Peacock, will see Henson both star in and executive produce under her production banner TPH Entertainment.
In June 2025, Henson starred in Tyler Perry’s Straw for Netflix. Straw debuted as the #1 film globally on Netflix in its first week and became one of the streamer’s most watched films of the year. It also earned Henson an NAACP Image Award for Best Actress in a TV Movie. Following the success of Straw, Henson and TPH Entertainment signed a two-picture acting and producing deal with Netflix.
In October 2025, Henson inked a first-look deal with Fox Entertainment Studios for TPH Entertainment. Under the multi-year pact, Henson, alongside Jamila Jordan-Theus, Head of Development and Production at TPH Entertainment, and their team will develop a slate of scripted and unscripted projects for Fox Entertainment Studios spanning comedy, drama, and reality formats. Henson will executive produce and could potentially star. In March 2026, in collaboration with FOX Entertainment Studios, TPH Entertainment partnered with Lifetime to executive produce two new original films.
In 2024, Henson starred in Peacock’s limited series “Fight Night: The Million Dollar Heist,” which launched as the most watched premiere in Peacock history and the #1 original drama. The show earned the NAACP Image Award for Outstanding Limited Television (Series, Special or Movie), and Henson took home the NAACP Image Award for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Limited Television (Series, Special or Movie).
Henson rose to fame with her breakout role in John Singleton’s Baby Boy. The film was the first of many in collaboration with the acclaimed director and producer. In 2005 they reteamed for the critically acclaimed Hustle & Flow, which earned Henson a Screen Actors Guild Award nomination and a BET Award for Best Actress. In 2023 she starred in the award-winning musical adaptation of The Color Purple, winning an NAACP Image Award and receiving a Screen Actors Guild Award ensemble nomination. Other film highlights include Hidden Figures, Acrimony, Proud Mary, Think Like A Man and Think Like A Man Too, Smokin’ Aces, No Good Deed, and The Curious Case of Benjamin Button, which earned her an Academy Award nomination for Best Supporting Actress.
On television, she has garnered multiple Primetime Emmy Award nominations, most recently for her guest turn on “Abbott Elementary.” Previously, Henson won a Golden Globe Award, received multiple Emmy nominations, and became the first Black woman to win a Critics’ Choice Television Award in the Best Actress in a Drama Series category for her portrayal of Cookie Lyon on the smash hit series “Empire.”
Henson is also a #1 New York Times bestselling author, having published two books. In 2024, she released her children’s book “You Can Be a Good Friend (No Matter What!),” which also earned her an NAACP Image Award for Best Children’s Book. In 2016, Henson released her New York Times bestselling novel “Around the Way Girl.”
In 2018, Henson created the Boris L. Henson Foundation, which exists to both normalize and improve access to mental health services for Black communities in hopes of eradicating the stigma around seeking help and support. Furthering her passion for creating and uplifting her community and beyond, Henson founded TPH by Taraji in 2020, an award-winning brand of inclusive, spa-inspired products. In April 2025 she acquired full ownership of the brand. Expanding her business portfolio even further, Henson partnered with Seven Daughters Moscato to become the brand’s strategic advisor and creative collaborator. After joining forces in late 2024, Seven Daughters has grown 40.3% in $ Sales L52W according to Nielsen.
Our speakers get attention.
-
How Taraji P. Henson Took Full Ownership of Her Beauty BrandThe actress didn’t want anything to get in the way of her vision for TPH by Taraji. Being in control ‘feels amazing,’ she says.
-
Watch: Taraji P. Henson keynote speaker at Spelman College’s 2025 commencement ceremonyActress, producer, and New York Times bestselling author Taraji P. Henson served as the keynote speaker and was awarded an honorary Doctor of Fine Arts degree during the ceremony.
-
Taraji P. Henson on Speaking Her Truth | TIME100Mary J. Blige on Taraji P. Henson, "Taraji is a real woman—she doesn’t bite her tongue, and she’s not afraid to stand up for what she believes in. She’s always…
-
THE 100 MOST INFLUENTIAL PEOPLE OF 2024Even before I knew her, I already felt like Taraji P. Henson was my friend. She was an actor I loved to watch, and I always felt like I could…
-
Taraji P. Henson Knows Her WorthTaraji P. Henson often plays towering characters who catapult off the screen with charisma, defiance, and tenacity.
-
Taraji P. Henson Is Tired of FightingThe “Color Purple” star talks candidly about her battles to get cast and paid her worth. Even as an Oscar-nominated veteran, she had to audition for her new film.
