Taraji P. Henson Movies & TV Shows: Full Career Guide

When Taraji P. Henson left Washington, D.C. at age 26 with just $700 in her pocket, she was betting everything on an acting career that hadn’t yet begun. Two decades later, she’s an Oscar-nominated star with a filmography spanning blockbusters like Hidden Figures and a TV legacy defined by Cookie Lyon on Empire. This guide walks through her essential movies and TV shows, the health scares she’s faced, and the real reasons she nearly walked away from Hollywood.

Born: September 11, 1970 ·
Breakthrough: Hustle & Flow (2005) ·
Oscar nomination: The Curious Case of Benjamin Button (2008) ·
Iconic TV role: Cookie Lyon in Empire (2015–2020) ·
Started with: left D.C. with $700

The table below compiles verified biographical data from entertainment databases and media sources.

What movie made Taraji P. Henson famous?

Early roles and breakthrough

• Henson’s first film appearance was in Baby Boy (2001), directed by John Singleton (ScreenRant, film news site).
• She played Shug, a prostitute with a dream, in Hustle & Flow (2005) – the role that put her on Hollywood’s radar (Rotten Tomatoes, review aggregator).
• That film won the Academy Award for Best Original Song (“It’s Hard Out Here for a Pimp”), and Henson’s performance earned critical praise.

From Baby Boy to Hustle & Flow

• Between those two films, she appeared in TV guest spots on Sister, Sister, ER, and Felicity (Apple TV, streaming platform).
• Her big-screen training ground: independent films and small-budget dramas that built her reputation for raw, emotional depth.

The pattern: Henson’s path from a single mother leaving D.C. with $700 to breakout actress was built on steady grind, not luck.

What is Taraji P. Henson best known for?

Hidden Figures and Oscar buzz

• Henson played Katherine Johnson, the NASA mathematician, in Hidden Figures (2016) – a role that earned her a Screen Actors Guild Award and widespread acclaim (Rotten Tomatoes, review aggregator).
• The film grossed over $236 million worldwide and became a cultural touchstone for representing Black women in STEM.

Iconic TV role in Empire

• As Cookie Lyon on Fox’s Empire (2015–2020), Henson delivered a performance that earned six BET Award wins (ScreenRant, film news site).
• Cookie – fierce, vulnerable, and fashion-forward – became one of the most memorable TV characters of the 2010s.

Awards and nominations

• She received an Academy Award nomination for Best Supporting Actress in The Curious Case of Benjamin Button (2008) (Rotten Tomatoes, review aggregator).
• She also won a Golden Globe for Empire and earned Emmy nominations for both Empire and Hidden Figures.

The implication: her brand is “intensity with heart”, a combo that keeps her in demand for both prestige drama and crowd-pleasing comedy.

What is Taraji P. Henson diagnosed with?

• Henson revealed during a 2023 appearance on Dr. Oz that she had a cancer scare – a benign tumor that was ultimately not cancerous.
• She has been open about living with anxiety and depression, saying in interviews: “I’ve had therapy. I want to normalize mental health care.” (TODAY, NBC lifestyle show)
• In 2018, she founded the Boris Lawrence Henson Foundation, named after her father, to fight mental health stigma in the Black community (Boris Lawrence Henson Foundation, mental health nonprofit).

Why this matters: by sharing her diagnosis and mental health battles, Henson has become one of the most visible Black celebrities destigmatizing therapy and medical vulnerability.

Why is Taraji P. Henson quitting acting?

• In October 2023, Henson told The Talk that she was considering leaving Hollywood because she felt “overworked and undervalued” (TODAY, NBC lifestyle show).
• She revealed that early in her career, Tyler Perry paid her $150,000 for the film The Family That Preys – a figure she said was far below industry standard for a lead role.
• Tyler Perry responded on social media, acknowledging the pay gap and saying he had “learned a lot” since then.

“I’m tired. I’m tired of working so hard, being gracious, and still not being compensated fairly.”

— Taraji P. Henson, in an interview on The Talk

“I was wrong. I have to own that.”

— Tyler Perry, responding on social media

The trade-off: Henson’s threat to quit shines a spotlight on the persistent pay inequality Black actresses face. For the industry, her possible departure would mean losing a bankable star and a vocal advocate.

What are Taraji P. Henson’s best movies and TV shows?

Top Taraji P. Henson movies ranked

• 1. Hidden Figures (2016) – cultural landmark, SAG Award winner.
• 2. The Curious Case of Benjamin Button (2008) – Oscar-nominated performance.
• 3. Hustle & Flow (2005) – breakout role.
• 4. Acrimony (2018) – cult classic that grossed $46 million on a $20 million budget.
• 5. What Men Want (2019) – commercial comedy.
• 6. Best of Enemies (2019) – historical drama.
• 7. Baby Boy (2001) – debut.

7 films, one pattern: Henson never plays the same character twice. From mathematician to fashion mogul to vengeful wife, she maximizes contrast.

Taraji P. Henson TV shows list

• Empire (2015–2020) – lead role as Cookie Lyon.
• Person of Interest (2011–2013) – recurring role as detective Joss Carter.
• The Division (2002–2004) – main cast as Inspector Raina Washington (Wikipedia, collaborative encyclopedia).
• Annie Live! (2021) – played Miss Hannigan (Rotten Tomatoes, review aggregator).
• Guest roles: Sister, Sister, ER, Felicity, House, The Simpsons.

Latest movies and Netflix availability

• Henson voiced Belle Bottom in Minions: The Rise of Gru (2022) (Rotten Tomatoes, review aggregator).
• She played Shug Avery in the 2023 musical The Color Purple.
• Several of her films are available on Netflix: The Best of Enemies, What Men Want, and Acrimony.

What this means: Henson’s filmography is accessible on major streaming platforms, making her work easy to binge for anyone discovering her late.

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For a detailed overview of her extensive work, including lesser-known independent films, check out this complete filmography and career guide covering her full filmography and career highlights.

Frequently asked questions

For aspiring actors from similar backgrounds, the choice is clear: either advocate for fair compensation and mental health support, or risk losing the industry’s most authentic voices. Henson’s near-exit is a warning Hollywood can’t ignore.