Known for movies
Person of Interest (2011-2015)
as Joss Carter
The Curious Case of Benjamin Button (2008)
as Queenie
The Karate Kid (2010)
as Sherry Parker
Date Night (2010)
as Detective Arroyo
Short Info
| Net Worth | $6 million, $6 Million |
| Date Of Birth | September 11, 1970, May 1994 |
| Fact | Her first and middle names are Swahili for "hope" and "love," respectively. |
| Payments | Earned $10,000 from Satan's School for Girls (2000) |
Taraji P. Henson (born September 11, 1970) is an American actress and singer. She studied acting at Howard University and began her Hollywood career in guest-roles on several television shows before making her breakthrough in Baby Boy (2001). She received praise for her performances in The Curious Case of Benjamin Button (2008), Tyler Perry’s I Can Do Bad All by Myself (2009), and For Colored Girls (2010). In 2016, she starred as Cookie Lyon in the Fox drama series Empire, for which she won a Golden Globe Award for Best Actress in a Television Series Drama.
Henson has also had an extensive career in film. She appeared in such films as The Karate Kid (2010), Think Like a Man (2012) and its sequel Think Like a Man Too (2014), Get Hard (2015), Hidden Figures (2016), Proud Mary (2018), and What Men Want (2019). She has also served as an executive producer on some of her film projects, including the Lifetime television film From the Rough (2013) and the WGN America television series Underground (2016).
Early Life
Taraji Penda Henson was born on September 11, 1970, in Washington, D.C., the daughter of Bernice Gordon and Boris Henson. Her father was a contractor who worked for the city government, while her mother was a corporate manager at Woodward & Lothrop. She has two older brothers, one of whom is a musician. Henson attended Oxon Hill High School in Maryland, where she was an honors student and a member of the debate team. She then enrolled at Howard University, where she studied drama.
Career
After graduating from Howard University in 1995, Henson began her Hollywood career in guest roles on several television shows, including Smart Guy, New York Undercover, ER, and The Division. Her breakthrough role came in 2001 with the film Baby Boy, in which she played Yvette, the girlfriend of rapper Snoop Dogg’s character. The film was a critical and commercial success, and Henson’s performance was praised by critics.
Henson’s next major role came in the 2008 film The Curious Case of Benjamin Button, in which she played Queenie, the mother of Brad Pitt’s character. The film was a critical and commercial success, and Henson’s performance earned her nominations for the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress and the Golden Globe Award for Best Supporting Actress.
In 2009, Henson starred in Tyler Perry’s I Can Do Bad All by Myself, in which she played April, a single mother struggling to raise her three children. The film was a critical and commercial success, and Henson’s performance earned her a nomination for the NAACP Image Award for Outstanding Actress in a Motion Picture.
In 2010, Henson starred in For Colored Girls, an adaptation of Ntozake Shange’s play For Colored Girls Who Have Considered Suicide When the Rainbow Is Enuf. The film was a critical and commercial success, and Henson’s performance earned her nominations for the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress and the Golden Globe Award for Best Supporting Actress.
https://www.instagram.com/p/CioVjoNrld4/
In 2016, Henson began starring as Cookie Lyon in the Fox drama series Empire. The show was a critical and commercial success, and Henson’s performance earned her widespread acclaim. In 2017, she won a Golden Globe Award for Best Actress in a Television Series Drama for her performance on the show.
In 2019, Henson starred in What Men Want, a remake of the 2000 film What Women Want. The film was a critical and commercial success, and Henson’s performance earned her praise from critics.
Personal Life
Henson has been in a relationship with former NFL player Kelvin Hayden since 2018. They have one son together.
Henson is a supporter of the Democratic Party. In 2020, she endorsed Joe Biden for president.
Physical Characteristics
Henson is 5 feet 2 inches tall and weighs approximately 115 pounds. She has black hair and brown eyes.
General Info
| Full Name | Taraji P. Henson |
| Net Worth | $6 million, $6 Million |
| Date Of Birth | September 11, 1970, May 1994 |
| Height | 1.65 m, 1.65 m |
| Profession | Voice Actor, Singer, Singer, Voice Actor |
| Education | Howard University, Oxon Hill High School, North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University, Howard University, Oxon Hill High School, North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University |
| Nationality | American, American |
Family
| Children | Marcel Johnson, Marcel Johnson |
| Parents | Boris Henson, Bernice Gordon, Bernice Gordon, Boris Henson |
Accomplishments
| Awards | BET Award for Best Actress, Golden Globe Award for Best Performance by an Actress In A Television Series - Drama, Critics' Choice Television Award for Best Actress in a Drama Series, NAACP Image Award for Entertainer of the Year, NAACP Image Award for Outstanding Actress in a Drama Series, Screen Ac... |
| Nominations | Academy Award for Best Actress in a Supporting Role, Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama Series, Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Limited Series or a Movie, Critics' Choice Movie Award for Best Acting Ensemble, MTV Movie Award for Best Kiss, Critics' Ch... |
| Movies | Hidden Figures, The Curious Case of Benjamin Button, No Good Deed, Hustle & Flow, I Can Do Bad All by Myself, Baby Boy, The Karate Kid, Think Like A Man, The Family That Preys, From the Rough, Smokin' Aces, Not Easily Broken, Four Brothers, Think Like a Man Too, Larry Crowne, Date Night, Talk to Me,... |
| TV Shows | Person of Interest, Boston Legal, The Division, Empire, Celebration of Gospel, Person of Interest, Boston Legal, The Division, Empire, Celebration of Gospel |
Social profile links
Salary
| Title | Salary |
|---|---|
| Baby Boy (2001) | $65,000 |
| The Division (2001) | $22,000 per episode |
| Satan's School for Girls (2000) | $10,000 |
| Sister, Sister (1994) | $5,000 per episode |
Quotes
| # | Quote |
|---|---|
| 1 | With TV, you get on a show and you're there for 11 years playing the same character. I would pull my hair out. Yes, the money is good. But I'm really not in this business to chase dollars. |
| 2 | I would love to do a biopic of a famous singer, like Diana Ross or Donna Summer, or an old jazz story that we haven't seen before. I would love to do that! I would love to play Diana Ross 'cause she's an icon. I'm salivating to do that. |
| 3 | I don't think a living being should suffer for the sake of fashion, period. End of story. You don't have to kill an animal just because you want to be hot and fly. And I really stand by that. |
| 4 | When I come home, it's about my kid, who needs to eat, needs to do homework, and needs to get to basketball. I don't have a lot of time to think about me. |
| 5 | With TV, the pace is so fast, the scripts are coming at you, the directors are firing things at you, it's breathtaking. |
| 6 | Something happens to a woman when she can't reproduce. I've not had to walk that path, but I can only imagine when your organs don't work and how that could make you feel. |
| 7 | Well, for one, I don't judge my characters. |
| 8 | Most men are fragile. |
| 9 | Oftentimes, when you have a huge studio film and you have big names attached, they like to keep attaching big names. |
| 10 | The best thing about being in New York is the people, and you get to walk everywhere. |
| 11 | Singing is something I can do, but it's not my first passion. |
| 12 | I'm not interested in disposable music. |
| 13 | I'm not a selfish actor. I believe that it's a team effort. You're not in a scene by yourself. |
| 14 | I've been doing a lot of drama, but I feel like comedy is my strength. |
| 15 | If I were to meet the most incredible man, and he just so happened to not make as much money as I do, I wouldn't hold it against him. |
| 16 | I'm always interested in challenging myself and pushing and seeing how far I can go. |
| 17 | I'm a character actor. |
| 18 | I love the art of acting, so I don't care if I'm in a movie with 10 people, two people, or by myself. I just really enjoy it. |
| 19 | I love New York. Love it. |
| 20 | I prefer doing feature films. |
| 21 | I'm always confident when I sign up for a project that it's going to be good. That's why I sign up for it. |
| 22 | I love children. |
| 23 | I just like when I work with people that are professional and good. |
| 24 | Acting for me is very therapeutic. It's my shrink. |
| 25 | I don't care if you're a man, if you're a player: If God sends you that one and your heart is in it, you'll work it out. |
| 26 | I like to be home with my son, kickin' it and watching ESPN, a very normal life. I like to take him to school every day, watch his games. |
| 27 | I'm really silly. That's the thing that people don't get. |
| 28 | I don't ever want to feel complacent. |
| 29 | I don't ever want to get boxed in, playing the same characters, over and over again. That's why I prefer features over television. |
| 30 | I like to disappear in my roles because I don't have an assistant. |
| 31 | A lot of times characters are combinations of people I come across in life. I people-watch a lot. |
| 32 | Date a woman with children only if you are ready to man up, because it's a position that comes with responsibility. |
| 33 | I'm a creative person, so I have to stay busy. |
| 34 | I'm nothing without God. |
| 35 | I feel like we all have our skeletons. |
| 36 | I would love to play a superhero. I wish I could be in 'The Avengers,' kicking butt. |
| 37 | A woman is gentle, soft, delicate, and a man's position is to protect her, help her up stairs, make sure she's in the car safely first. Take good care of your woman, and the sky's the limit! |
| 38 | It's up to you to be responsible for how you feel if you're not happy. Your happiness lies in your hands. You can't rely on a man to make you happy or complete you. That starts with you. |
| 39 | I don't harp on the negative because if you do, then there's no progression. There's no forward movement. You got to always look on the bright side of things, and we are in control. Like, you have control over the choices you make. |
| 40 | When I meet a person and that chemistry is there, I cannot hide the electricity. I need to learn more about him, and once I feel safe, I'm gone, I'm in love, and I give it my all! |
| 41 | I'm always the cousin that can't make it to the family functions because I'm busy. |
| 42 | Love is the greatest gift that God has given us. It's free. |
| 43 | At the end of the day, I stand by who I am. I'm a good person. |
| 44 | Humans have a light side and a dark side, and it's up to us to choose which way we're going to live our lives. Even if you start out on the dark side, it doesn't mean you have to continue your journey that way. You always have time to turn it around. |
| 45 | Every human walks around with a certain kind of sadness. They may not wear it on their sleeves, but it's there if you look deep. |
| 46 | Once you're a mom, always a mom. It's like riding a bike, you never forget. |
Facts
| # | Fact |
|---|---|
| 1 | Friends with Mary J. Blige. |
| 2 | Claimed in an interview with Uptown magazine that her son Marcel Johnson was racially profiled when his car was stopped by police in Glendale and that police searched his car illegally. However, the dashcam video of the incident revealed that Johnson drove through a lighted crosswalk as a person walked across and that he was in possession of marijuana and other drug paraphernalia, which a police officer found after smelling marijuana smoke in the car and Johnson consented and allowed the officer to search his car. After the video surfaced, she apologized via Instagram for her statements. She was apparently misinformed about the incident by her son. [March 2015] |
| 3 | Living in Glendale, California with her son, Marcel. [2005] |
| 4 | She is an only child. |
| 5 | Her first and middle names are Swahili for "hope" and "love," respectively. |
| 6 | Contrary to previously published accounts, Taraji is a relative, not a descendant, of North Pole explorer Matthew Henson. |
| 7 | The father of her only son died unexpectedly in 1997. |
| 8 | Henson first attended North Carolina Agric & Tech, where she attempted to study electrical engineering. She failed precalculus, so she transferred to Howard University. To pay for Howard, she worked two jobs: in the morning, as a secretary at the Pentagon; at night, as a singing and dancing waitress on a dinner cruise ship. She graduated from Howard University in 1995. |
| 9 | She was born and raised in Washington, D.C., and attended Oxon Hill High School in Oxon Hill, Maryland. |
| 10 | Has a son named Marcel (born in May 1994). |
| 11 | Voted one of "The 10 Sexiest Women of 2001" by the readers of Black Men Magazine. |
Pictures
Movies
Actress
| Title | Year | Status | Character |
|---|---|---|---|
| Acrimony | 2017 | post-production | |
| Hidden Figures | 2016 | completed | Katherine Johnson |
| Empire | 2015-2017 | TV Series | Cookie Lyon |
| The Simpsons | 2017 | TV Series | Praline |
| Term Life | 2016 | Samantha Thurman | |
| Ice Age: The Great Egg-Scapade | 2016 | TV Short | Ethel (voice) |
| Person of Interest | 2011-2015 | TV Series | Joss Carter |
| Seasons of Love | 2014 | TV Movie | Jackie |
| No Good Deed | 2014/I | Terry | |
| Top Five | 2014 | Taraji P. Henson | |
| Think Like a Man Too | 2014 | Lauren | |
| From the Rough | 2013 | Catana Starks | |
| Madly Madagascar | 2013 | Video short | Okapi (voice) |
| Living in the Age of Surveillance | 2012 | Video short | Various |
| Think Like a Man | 2012 | Lauren | |
| Larry Crowne | 2011 | B'Ella | |
| The Good Doctor | 2011/I | Nurse Theresa | |
| Taken from Me: The Tiffany Rubin Story | 2011 | TV Movie | Tiffany Rubin |
| The Brotherly Love Table Read | 2010 | Video short | |
| Peep World | 2010 | Mary | |
| The Karate Kid | 2010 | Sherry Parker | |
| The Cleveland Show | 2010 | TV Series | Chanel |
| Once Fallen | 2010 | Pearl | |
| Date Night | 2010 | Detective Arroyo | |
| Forehead Tittaes | 2010 | Video short | |
| Hurricane Season | 2009 | Dayna Collins | |
| I Can Do Bad All by Myself | 2009 | April | |
| Not Easily Broken | 2009 | Clarice Clark | |
| The Curious Case of Benjamin Button | 2008 | Queenie | |
| Eli Stone | 2008 | TV Series | Angela Scott |
| The Family That Preys | 2008 | Pam | |
| Boston Legal | 2007-2008 | TV Series | Whitney Rome |
| Talk to Me | 2007 | Vernell Watson | |
| Smokin' Aces | 2006 | Sharice Watters (as Taraji Henson) | |
| CSI: Crime Scene Investigation | 2006 | TV Series | Christina |
| Something New | 2006/I | Nedra | |
| House M.D. | 2005 | TV Series | Moira |
| Half & Half | 2005 | TV Series | Gabrielle |
| Animal | 2005 | Video | Ramona |
| Four Brothers | 2005 | Camille Mercer | |
| Hustle & Flow | 2005 | Shug | |
| Hair Show | 2004 | Tiffany (as Taraji Henson) | |
| All of Us | 2004 | TV Series | Kim |
| The Division | 2002-2004 | TV Series | Inspector Raina Washington |
| Holla | 2002 | TV Series | Guest |
| Baby Boy | 2001 | Yvette | |
| Murder, She Wrote: The Last Free Man | 2001 | TV Movie | Bess Pinckney |
| All or Nothing | 2001 | Kiko | |
| The Adventures of Rocky & Bullwinkle | 2000 | Left-Wing Student (as Taraji Henson) | |
| Strong Medicine | 2000 | TV Series | Crystal |
| Satan's School for Girls | 2000 | TV Movie | Paige |
| Pacific Blue | 1999 | TV Series | Rhonda |
| Felicity | 1998-1999 | TV Series | Art Student / R.A. #2 |
| Streetwise | 1998 | Tammy | |
| Smart Guy | 1997-1998 | TV Series | Leslie / Monique |
| Saved by the Bell: The New Class | 1998 | TV Series | Girl #3 |
| ER | 1998 | TV Series | Elan / Patrice Robbins |
| Sister, Sister | 1997 | TV Series | Briana |
| The Parent 'Hood | 1997 | TV Series | Aida |
Producer
| Title | Year | Status | Character |
|---|---|---|---|
| Taraji's White Hot Holidays | 2016 | TV Movie producer | |
| Taraji and Terrence's White Hot Holidays | 2015 | TV Movie executive producer | |
| Seasons of Love | 2014 | TV Movie executive producer | |
| No Good Deed | 2014/I | executive producer |
Soundtrack
| Title | Year | Status | Character |
|---|---|---|---|
| Empire | 2015 | TV Series performer - 2 episodes | |
| The 78th Annual Academy Awards | 2006 | TV Special performer: "It's Hard Out Here for a Pimp" | |
| Hustle & Flow | 2005 | performer: "It's Hard Out Here for a Pimp" |
Thanks
| Title | Year | Status | Character |
|---|---|---|---|
| Smokin' Aces: The Big Gun | 2007 | Video short special thanks - as Taraji Henson |
Self
| Title | Year | Status | Character |
|---|---|---|---|
| Variety Studio: Actors on Actors | 2015-2017 | TV Series | Herself |
| The Insider | 2014-2016 | TV Series | Herself / Herself - Author, Around the Way Girl / Herself - No Good Deed / ... |
| Extra | 2015-2016 | TV Series | Herself / Herself - Author, Around the Way Girl |
| The View | 2015-2016 | TV Series | Herself / Herself - Guest |
| The 10th Annual CNN Heroes: An All-Star Tribute | 2016 | TV Movie | Herself - Presenter |
| Live with Kelly and Michael | 2013-2016 | TV Series | Herself - Guest / Herself - Guest Co-Hostess / Herself - Guest Co-Host |
| Entertainment Tonight | 2008-2016 | TV Series | Herself / Herself - No Good Deed |
| Late Night with Seth Meyers | 2015-2016 | TV Series | Herself - Guest / Herself |
| Taraji's White Hot Holidays | 2016 | TV Movie | Herself - Host |
| Today | 2016 | TV Series | Herself - Guest |
| Steve Harvey | 2015-2016 | TV Series | Herself |
| Access Hollywood | 2016 | TV Series | Herself |
| Good Morning America | 2014-2016 | TV Series | Herself - Guest |
| The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon | 2015-2016 | TV Series | Herself / Herself (segment "Jimpire") |
| Harry | 2016 | TV Series | Herself |
| The 68th Primetime Emmy Awards | 2016 | TV Special | Herself - Presenter |
| This Week in Hollywood | 2016 | TV Series | Herself |
| TV Land Icon Awards 2016 | 2016 | TV Movie | Herself |
| The 47th NAACP Image Awards | 2016 | TV Movie | Herself - presenter |
| Celebration of Gospel | 2016 | TV Movie | Herself - Host |
| 2016 Golden Globe Arrivals Special | 2016 | TV Special | Herself |
| 73rd Golden Globe Awards | 2016 | TV Special | Herself - Presenter: TV Series-Comedy / Winner |
| E! Live from the Red Carpet | 2015-2016 | TV Series | Herself / Herself - After Party Guest |
| Taraji and Terrence's White Hot Holidays | 2015 | TV Movie | Herself |
| The Late Late Show with James Corden | 2015 | TV Series | Herself |
| VH1 Big in 2015 with Entertainment Weekly | 2015 | TV Special | Herself |
| Jimmy Kimmel Live! | 2014-2015 | TV Series | Herself / Herself - Guest |
| Ok! TV | 2015 | TV Series | Herself |
| Ellen: The Ellen DeGeneres Show | 2009-2015 | TV Series | Herself - Guest |
| The 67th Primetime Emmy Awards | 2015 | TV Special | Herself - Presenter: Outstanding Writing for a Limited Series, Movie, or Dramatic Special / Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Limited Series or Movie and Nominated: Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama Series |
| Lip Sync Battle | 2015 | TV Series | Herself - Competitor |
| Close Up with the Hollywood Reporter | 2015 | TV Series | Herself |
| Guys Choice Awards 2015 | 2015 | TV Movie | Herself - Host |
| The 5th Annual Critics' Choice Television Awards | 2015 | TV Special | Herself |
| 2015 Billboard Music Awards | 2015 | TV Special | Herself - Presenter |
| Saturday Night Live | 2015 | TV Series | Herself - Host / Nicki Minaj / Tamara Sanz / ... |
| IHeartRadio Music Awards | 2015 | TV Special | Herself |
| Unsung Hollywood | 2015 | TV Series documentary | Herself |
| The Talk | 2011-2015 | TV Series | Herself |
| The 46th Annual NAACP Image Awards | 2015 | TV Special | Herself - Presenter |
| The Wendy Williams Show | 2011-2015 | TV Series | Herself - Guest |
| Pitbull's New Year's Revolution | 2014 | TV Movie | Herself |
| Made in Hollywood | 2011-2014 | TV Series | Herself |
| Reel Junkie | 2014 | TV Series | Herself |
| Up Close with Carrie Keagan | 2007-2014 | TV Series | Herself - Guest |
| The Arsenio Hall Show | 2014 | TV Series | Herself - Guest |
| Hollywood Game Night | 2014 | TV Series | Herself - Guest |
| The Queen Latifah Show | 2013 | TV Series | Herself - Guest |
| Late Show with David Letterman | 2013 | TV Series | Herself - Guest |
| The 365Black Awards | 2013 | TV Special | Herself - Host |
| Backstage Baby | 2013 | Documentary short | Herself |
| Picasso Baby: A Performance Art Film | 2013 | TV Movie documentary | Herself - Actor |
| Fashion News Live | 2010-2013 | TV Series | Herself |
| BET Awards 2013 | 2013 | TV Special | Herself |
| I Love Black Movies | 2013 | TV Series | Herself - interviewee |
| We Will Always Love You: A Grammy Salute to Whitney Houston | 2012 | TV Movie documentary | Herself |
| Huff Post's BV 365 | 2012 | TV Series | Herself |
| Black Girls Rock! 2012 | 2012 | TV Movie | Herself |
| Late Night with Jimmy Fallon | 2009-2012 | TV Series | Herself - Guest |
| BET Awards 2012 | 2012 | TV Special | Herself |
| 43rd NAACP Image Awards | 2012 | TV Special | Herself |
| The 54th Annual Grammy Awards | 2012 | TV Special | Herself |
| Rachael Ray | 2012 | TV Series | Herself - Guest |
| Mama & Me | 2011 | Documentary | Herself |
| Black Girls Rock! 2011 | 2011 | TV Movie | Herself |
| The 63rd Primetime Emmy Awards | 2011 | TV Special | Herself - Nominated: Outstanding Lead Actress in a Miniseries or Movie & Performer |
| Kevin Hart: Laugh at My Pain | 2011 | Documentary | Taraji |
| BET Awards 2011 | 2011 | TV Special | Herself |
| Bowl of Dreams | 2011 | Documentary | Herself |
| An Evening of Stars: Tribute to Chaka Khan | 2011 | TV Movie | Herself |
| Chelsea Lately | 2010-2011 | TV Series | Herself - Guest |
| 2010 Soul Train Awards | 2010 | TV Special | Herself - Host |
| The Mo'Nique Show | 2009-2010 | TV Series | Herself - Guest |
| Date Night: Disaster Dates | 2010 | Video short | Herself |
| BET Awards 2010 | 2010 | TV Special | Herself |
| The Late Late Show with Craig Ferguson | 2010 | TV Series | Herself - Guest |
| 2010 VH1 Hip Hop Honors: The Dirty South | 2010 | TV Special | Herself - Presenter |
| KTLA Morning News | 2010 | TV Series | Herself |
| 25th Film Independent Spirit Awards | 2010 | TV Special | Herself |
| 41st NAACP Image Awards | 2010 | TV Special | Herself |
| The BET Honors | 2010 | TV Special | Herself |
| The 36th Annual People's Choice Awards | 2010 | TV Special | Herself |
| Shooting Star(s): The Rise of Hip Hop Photographer Johnny Nunez | 2009 | Documentary | Herself |
| 2009 Soul Train Awards | 2009 | TV Special | Herself - Host |
| BET Awards 2009 | 2009 | TV Special | Herself |
| The 2009 Independent Spirit Awards | 2009 | TV Special | Herself |
| 2009 MTV Movie Awards | 2009 | TV Special | Herself |
| Straight from the Horses Mouth | 2009 | Video | Herself |
| The Curious Birth of Benjamin Button | 2009 | Video documentary | Herself |
| Star Movies: Live from the Red Carpet | 2009 | TV Movie | Herself |
| La noche de los Oscar | 2009 | TV Movie | Herself |
| The 81st Annual Academy Awards | 2009 | TV Special | Herself - Nominee: Best Actress in a Supporting Role |
| The 40th NAACP Image Awards | 2009 | TV Special | Herself |
| Late Night with Conan O'Brien | 2009 | TV Series | Herself - Guest |
| 15th Annual Screen Actors Guild Awards | 2009 | TV Special | Herself |
| The Tonight Show with Jay Leno | 2009 | TV Series | Herself - Guest |
| Tavis Smiley | 2008 | TV Series | Herself - Guest |
| 39th NAACP Image Awards | 2008 | TV Special | Herself |
| An Evening of Stars: Tribute to Smokey Robinson | 2008 | TV Movie | Herself |
| 37th NAACP Image Awards | 2006 | TV Special | Herself |
| The 10th Annual Soul Train Lady of Soul Awards | 2005 | TV Special | Herself |
| The 3rd Annual Vibe Awards | 2005 | TV Special | Herself |
| Young Hollywood Awards | 2005 | TV Special | Herself |
| 4th Annual BET Awards | 2004 | TV Special | Herself |
| The 18th Annual Soul Train Music Awards | 2004 | TV Special | Herself |
| The Drop | 2004 | TV Series | Herself |
| The Test | 2001 | TV Series | Herself - Panelist |
Archive Footage
| Title | Year | Status | Character |
|---|---|---|---|
| Entertainment Tonight | 2015-2016 | TV Series | Herself / Herself - Author, Around the Way Girl |
| Extra | 2015-2016 | TV Series | Herself |
| The Insider | 2016 | TV Series | Herself |
| Fox and Friends | 2016 | TV Series | Herself |
| Inside Edition | 2015 | TV Series documentary | Herself / Herself - Hostess, Live with Kelly & Michael |
Awards
Won Awards
| Year | Award | Ceremony | Nomination | Movie |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2016 | Golden Globe | Golden Globes, USA | Best Performance by an Actress in a Television Series - Drama | Empire (2015) |
| 2016 | BET Award | BET Awards | Best Actress | Empire (2015) |
| 2016 | Dorian Award | Gay and Lesbian Entertainment Critics Association (GALECA) | TV Performance of the Year - Actress | Empire (2015) |
| 2016 | Image Award | Image Awards | Outstanding Actress in a Drama Series | Empire (2015) |
| 2015 | OFTA Television Award | Online Film & Television Association | Best Actress in a Drama Series | Empire (2015) |
| 2015 | BET Award | BET Awards | Best Actress | No Good Deed (2014) |
| 2015 | Critics' Choice TV Award | Critics Choice Television Awards | Best Actress in a Drama Series | Empire (2015) |
| 2015 | Image Award | Image Awards | Outstanding Actress in a Motion Picture | No Good Deed (2014) |
| 2015 | Entertainer of the Year Award | Image Awards | ||
| 2014 | Image Award | Image Awards | Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Drama Series | Person of Interest (2011) |
| 2012 | Black Reel | Black Reel Awards | Outstanding Television or Mini-Series Performance, Female | Taken from Me: The Tiffany Rubin Story (2011) |
| 2012 | Image Award | Image Awards | Outstanding Actress in a Television Movie, Mini-Series or Dramatic Special | Taken from Me: The Tiffany Rubin Story (2011) |
| 2011 | BET Award | BET Awards | Best Actress | The Karate Kid (2010) |
| 2010 | CinEuphoria | CinEuphoria Awards | Best Supporting Actress - International Competition | The Curious Case of Benjamin Button (2008) |
| 2009 | BET Award | BET Awards | Best Actress | Not Easily Broken (2009) |
| 2009 | Image Award | Image Awards | Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Motion Picture | The Curious Case of Benjamin Button (2008) |
| 2008 | Austin Film Critics Award | Austin Film Critics Association | Best Supporting Actress | The Curious Case of Benjamin Button (2008) |
| 2007 | Gotham Independent Film Award | Gotham Awards | Best Ensemble Performance | Talk to Me (2007) |
| 2006 | BET Award | BET Awards | Best Actress | Hustle & Flow (2005) |
| 2006 | Black Reel | Black Reel Awards | Best Supporting Actress | Hustle & Flow (2005) |
| 2005 | Black Movie Award | Black Movie Awards | Outstanding Performance by an Actress in a Supporting Role | Hustle & Flow (2005) |
| 2001 | Special Mention | Locarno International Film Festival | Baby Boy (2001) |
Nominated Awards
| Year | Award | Ceremony | Nomination | Movie |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2016 | OFTA Television Award | Online Film & Television Association | Best Actress in a Drama Series | Empire (2015) |
| 2016 | Teen Choice Award | Teen Choice Awards | Choice TV Actress: Drama | Empire (2015) |
| 2016 | Primetime Emmy | Primetime Emmy Awards | Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama Series | Empire (2015) |
| 2016 | Critics' Choice TV Award | Critics Choice Television Awards | Best Actress in a Drama Series | Empire (2015) |
| 2015 | Satellite Award | Satellite Awards | Best Actress in a Series, Drama | Empire (2015) |
| 2015 | Teen Choice Award | Teen Choice Awards | Choice TV Actress: Drama | Empire (2015) |
| 2015 | Teen Choice Award | Teen Choice Awards | Choice TV: Chemistry | Empire (2015) |
| 2015 | TCA Award | Television Critics Association Awards | Individual Achievement in Drama | Empire (2015) |
| 2015 | Primetime Emmy | Primetime Emmy Awards | Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama Series | Empire (2015) |
| 2015 | Gold Derby TV Award | Gold Derby Awards | Performer of the Year | |
| 2015 | Gold Derby TV Award | Gold Derby Awards | Drama Lead Actress | Empire (2015) |
| 2013 | BET Award | BET Awards | Best Actress | Person of Interest (2011) |
| 2013 | IGN Award | IGN Summer Movie Awards | Best TV Hero | Person of Interest (2011) |
| 2013 | Image Award | Image Awards | Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Motion Picture | Think Like a Man (2012) |
| 2012 | BET Award | BET Awards | Best Actress | Person of Interest (2011) |
| 2012 | Image Award | Image Awards | Outstanding Actress in a Drama Series | Person of Interest (2011) |
| 2011 | OFTA Television Award | Online Film & Television Association | Best Actress in a Motion Picture or Miniseries | Taken from Me: The Tiffany Rubin Story (2011) |
| 2011 | Satellite Award | Satellite Awards | Best Actress in a Miniseries or a Motion Picture Made for Television | Taken from Me: The Tiffany Rubin Story (2011) |
| 2011 | WIN Award | Women's Image Network Awards | Actress Made For TV Movie / Mini Series | Taken from Me: The Tiffany Rubin Story (2011) |
| 2011 | Primetime Emmy | Primetime Emmy Awards | Outstanding Lead Actress in a Miniseries or Movie | Taken from Me: The Tiffany Rubin Story (2011) |
| 2011 | Gold Derby TV Award | Gold Derby Awards | TV Movie/Mini Lead Actress | Taken from Me: The Tiffany Rubin Story (2011) |
| 2010 | BET Award | BET Awards | Best Actress | I Can Do Bad All by Myself (2009) |
| 2010 | Black Reel | Black Reel Awards | Best Actress | I Can Do Bad All by Myself (2009) |
| 2010 | Image Award | Image Awards | Outstanding Actress in a Motion Picture | I Can Do Bad All by Myself (2009) |
| 2009 | Actor | Screen Actors Guild Awards | Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Supporting Role | The Curious Case of Benjamin Button (2008) |
| 2009 | Actor | Screen Actors Guild Awards | Outstanding Performance by a Cast in a Motion Picture | The Curious Case of Benjamin Button (2008) |
| 2009 | Actor | Screen Actors Guild Awards | Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Drama Series | Boston Legal (2004) |
| 2009 | Oscar | Academy Awards, USA | Best Performance by an Actress in a Supporting Role | The Curious Case of Benjamin Button (2008) |
| 2009 | Critics Choice Award | Broadcast Film Critics Association Awards | Best Supporting Actress | The Curious Case of Benjamin Button (2008) |
| 2009 | Critics Choice Award | Broadcast Film Critics Association Awards | Best Acting Ensemble | The Curious Case of Benjamin Button (2008) |
| 2009 | Gold Derby Award | Gold Derby Awards | Ensemble Cast | The Curious Case of Benjamin Button (2008) |
| 2009 | IOMA | Italian Online Movie Awards (IOMA) | Best Supporting Actress (Miglior attrice non protagonista) | The Curious Case of Benjamin Button (2008) |
| 2009 | MTV Movie Award | MTV Movie Awards | Best Female Performance | The Curious Case of Benjamin Button (2008) |
| 2008 | Actor | Screen Actors Guild Awards | Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Drama Series | Boston Legal (2004) |
| 2008 | SLFCA Award | St. Louis Film Critics Association, US | Best Supporting Actress | The Curious Case of Benjamin Button (2008) |
| 2008 | EDA Award | Alliance of Women Film Journalists | Best Supporting Actress | The Curious Case of Benjamin Button (2008) |
| 2008 | ACCA | Awards Circuit Community Awards | Best Actress in a Supporting Role | The Curious Case of Benjamin Button (2008) |
| 2008 | ACCA | Awards Circuit Community Awards | Best Cast Ensemble | The Curious Case of Benjamin Button (2008) |
| 2008 | Black Reel | Black Reel Awards | Best Supporting Actress | The Curious Case of Benjamin Button (2008) |
| 2008 | DFWFCA Award | Dallas-Fort Worth Film Critics Association Awards | Best Supporting Actress | The Curious Case of Benjamin Button (2008) |
| 2008 | HFCS Award | Houston Film Critics Society Awards | Best Supporting Actress | The Curious Case of Benjamin Button (2008) |
| 2008 | Image Award | Image Awards | Outstanding Actress in a Motion Picture | Talk to Me (2007) |
| 2007 | Satellite Award | Satellite Awards | Best Actress in a Supporting Role, Drama | Talk to Me (2007) |
| 2007 | SLFCA Award | St. Louis Film Critics Association, US | Best Supporting Actress | Talk to Me (2007) |
| 2006 | OFTA Film Award | Online Film & Television Association | Best Music, Original Song | Hustle & Flow (2005) |
| 2006 | Actor | Screen Actors Guild Awards | Outstanding Performance by a Cast in a Motion Picture | Hustle & Flow (2005) |
| 2006 | Image Award | Image Awards | Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Motion Picture | Hustle & Flow (2005) |
| 2006 | MTV Movie Award | MTV Movie Awards | Best Breakthrough Performance | Hustle & Flow (2005) |
| 2006 | MTV Movie Award | MTV Movie Awards | Best Kiss | Hustle & Flow (2005) |
| 2005 | WAFCA Award | Washington DC Area Film Critics Association Awards | Best Supporting Actress | Hustle & Flow (2005) |
| 2002 | Black Reel | Black Reel Awards | Theatrical - Best Actress | Baby Boy (2001) |
2nd Place Awards
| Year | Award | Ceremony | Nomination | Movie |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2008 | Golden Schmoes | Golden Schmoes Awards | Best Supporting Actress of the Year | The Curious Case of Benjamin Button (2008) |
Source: IMDb, Wikipedia
