Taraji P. Henson
Taraji P. Henson

Taraji P. Henson

Born: September 11, 1970 (55 years)
Washington, D.C., USA

Taraji P. Henson (born September 11, 1970) is an American actress, producer and singer. She studied acting at Howard University and began her Hollywood career as guest star on several television shows before making her breakthrough in the movie Baby Boy (2001). In 2005, she starred in Hustle & Flow and played Queenie in David Fincher's The Curious Case of Benjamin Button (2008), for which she received an Academy Award nomination. In 2016, Time named Henson one of the 100 most influential people in the world on the annual Time 100 list. Henson also released an autobiography titled Around The Way Girl.

Movies Directed (2)
TV Shows Directed (1)
Movies as Actor (64)
Why Did I Get Married Again?

Why Did I Get Married Again?

Sep 9, 2026

Escape Room

Escape Room

Aug 22, 2025

STRAW

STRAW

as Janiyah Wiltkinson

Jun 5, 2025

TIME100: The World's Most Influential People

TIME100: The World's Most Influential People

as Host

May 12, 2024

Where's Usher?

Where's Usher?

as Self

Feb 8, 2024

Oprah & The Color Purple Journey

Oprah & The Color Purple Journey

as Self

Dec 28, 2023

The Color Purple

The Color Purple

as Shug Avery

Dec 25, 2023

Going to Mars: The Nikki Giovanni Project

Going to Mars: The Nikki Giovanni Project

as Self (voice)

Nov 3, 2023

PAW Patrol: The Mighty Movie

PAW Patrol: The Mighty Movie

as Victoria Vance (voice)

Sep 21, 2023

Savage X Fenty Show Vol. 4

Savage X Fenty Show Vol. 4

as Self

Nov 9, 2022

Minions: The Rise of Gru

Minions: The Rise of Gru

as Belle Bottom (voice)

Jun 29, 2022

Annie Live!

Annie Live!

as Miss Hannigan

Dec 2, 2021

Muppets Haunted Mansion

Muppets Haunted Mansion

as The Bride

Oct 8, 2021

Mary J. Blige's My Life

Mary J. Blige's My Life

as Self

Jun 25, 2021

Feeding America Comedy Festival

Feeding America Comedy Festival

as Self

May 10, 2020

Coffee & Kareem

Coffee & Kareem

as Vanessa Manning

Apr 3, 2020

This Changes Everything

This Changes Everything

as Self

Jul 22, 2019

The Best of Enemies

The Best of Enemies

as Ann Atwater

Apr 5, 2019

What Men Want

What Men Want

as Alison 'Ali' Davis

Feb 8, 2019

Ralph Breaks the Internet

Ralph Breaks the Internet

as Yesss (voice)

Nov 20, 2018

Acrimony

Acrimony

as Melinda Moore Gayle

Mar 30, 2018

Proud Mary

Proud Mary

as Mary

Jan 12, 2018

Taraji's White Hot Holiday Special

Taraji's White Hot Holiday Special

as Self - Host / Mrs. Claus / Mary / Prancer

Dec 14, 2017

Hidden Figures

Hidden Figures

as Katherine G. Johnson

Dec 10, 2016

Term Life

Term Life

as Samantha Thurman

Apr 29, 2016

Ice Age: The Great Egg-Scapade

Ice Age: The Great Egg-Scapade

as Ethel (voice)

Mar 19, 2016

Top Five

Top Five

as Taraji P. Henson

Dec 12, 2014

Seasons of Love

Seasons of Love

as Jackie

Nov 23, 2014

No Good Deed

No Good Deed

as Terry

Sep 10, 2014

Think Like a Man Too

Think Like a Man Too

as Lauren Harris

Jun 20, 2014

Picasso Baby

Picasso Baby

as Self

Aug 2, 2013

From the Rough

From the Rough

as Catana Starks

Jun 8, 2013

Madly Madagascar

Madly Madagascar

as Okapi (voice)

Jan 29, 2013

Whitney Houston: We Will Always Love You

Whitney Houston: We Will Always Love You

as Self

Jul 1, 2012

Think Like a Man

Think Like a Man

as Lauren Harris

Apr 20, 2012

Larry Crowne

Larry Crowne

as B'Ella

Jun 30, 2011

The Good Doctor

The Good Doctor

as Nurse Theresa

Apr 23, 2011

Taken from Me: The Tiffany Rubin Story

Taken from Me: The Tiffany Rubin Story

as Tiffany Rubin

Jan 31, 2011

Once Fallen

Once Fallen

as Pearl

Nov 2, 2010

Peep World

Peep World

as Mary

Sep 15, 2010

The Karate Kid

The Karate Kid

as Sherry Parker

Jun 10, 2010

Date Night

Date Night

as Detective Arroyo

Apr 8, 2010

Hurricane Season

Hurricane Season

as Dayna Collins

Feb 9, 2010

I Can Do Bad All By Myself

I Can Do Bad All By Myself

as April

Sep 11, 2009

The Curious Birth of Benjamin Button

The Curious Birth of Benjamin Button

as Self

May 5, 2009

Not Easily Broken

Not Easily Broken

as Clarice Clark

Jan 9, 2009

The Curious Case of Benjamin Button

The Curious Case of Benjamin Button

as Queenie

Dec 25, 2008

Tyler Perry's The Family That Preys

Tyler Perry's The Family That Preys

as Pam

Sep 12, 2008

Talk to Me

Talk to Me

as Vernell Watson

Jul 13, 2007

Smokin' Aces

Smokin' Aces

as Sharice Watters

Dec 9, 2006

Something New

Something New

as Nedra

Jan 29, 2006

Four Brothers

Four Brothers

as Camille Mercer

Aug 11, 2005

Hustle & Flow

Hustle & Flow

as Shug

Jul 22, 2005

Animal

Animal

as Ramona

May 1, 2005

Hair Show

Hair Show

as Tiffany

Oct 17, 2004

Book of Love: The Definitive Reason Why Men Are Dogs

Book of Love: The Definitive Reason Why Men Are Dogs

as Date #4 / Ghetto Girl (as Taraji Henson)

Feb 14, 2002

Baby Boy

Baby Boy

as Yvette

Jun 27, 2001

Murder, She Wrote: The Last Free Man

Murder, She Wrote: The Last Free Man

as Bess Pinckney

May 2, 2001

The Adventures of Rocky & Bullwinkle

The Adventures of Rocky & Bullwinkle

as Left-Wing Student

Jun 30, 2000

Satan's School for Girls

Satan's School for Girls

as Paige

Mar 13, 2000

Streetwise

Streetwise

as Tammy

Jun 12, 1998

Sorcerority

Sorcerority

Force

Force

'Tis So Sweet

'Tis So Sweet

TV Shows as Actor (65)
My Happy Place

My Happy Place

as Self

Apr 27, 2025

Number One on the Call Sheet

Number One on the Call Sheet

as Self

Mar 27, 2025

Fight Night: The Million Dollar Heist

Fight Night: The Million Dollar Heist

as Vivian Thoma

Sep 5, 2024

Hollywood Black

Hollywood Black

as Self (archive footage)

Aug 11, 2024

Celebrity Prank Wars

Celebrity Prank Wars

as Self

Apr 5, 2023

The Wine Down with Mary J. Blige

The Wine Down with Mary J. Blige

as Self

Mar 1, 2023

The Jennifer Hudson Show

The Jennifer Hudson Show

as Self

Sep 12, 2022

Sherri

Sherri

as Self - Guest

Sep 12, 2022

Abbott Elementary

Abbott Elementary

as Vanetta

Dec 7, 2021

That's My Jam

That's My Jam

as Self - Guest

Nov 29, 2021

Hart to Heart

Hart to Heart

as Self

Aug 5, 2021

Legendary

Legendary

as Self - Guest Judge

May 27, 2020

History 101

History 101

as Self (archive footage)

May 22, 2020

Celebrity IOU

Celebrity IOU

as Self

Apr 13, 2020

A Little Late with Lilly Singh

A Little Late with Lilly Singh

as Self

Sep 16, 2019

The Kelly Clarkson Show

The Kelly Clarkson Show

as Self, Self - Guest Host

Sep 9, 2019

Today with Jenna & Sheinelle

Today with Jenna & Sheinelle

as Self

Apr 8, 2019

The Masked Singer

The Masked Singer

as Self - Panelist

Jan 2, 2019

The Alec Baldwin Show

The Alec Baldwin Show

as Self

Oct 14, 2018

Carpool Karaoke: The Series

Carpool Karaoke: The Series

as Self

Aug 8, 2017

Taraji's White Hot Holidays

Taraji's White Hot Holidays

as Herself - Host

Dec 9, 2015

The Late Show with Stephen Colbert

The Late Show with Stephen Colbert

as Self - Guest

Sep 8, 2015

Close Up with The Hollywood Reporter

Close Up with The Hollywood Reporter

as Self

Aug 2, 2015

Celebrity Family Feud

Celebrity Family Feud

as Self - Contestant

Jun 21, 2015

Lip Sync Battle

Lip Sync Battle

as Self

Apr 2, 2015

The Late Late Show with James Corden

The Late Late Show with James Corden

as Self, Self - Guest

Mar 23, 2015

Hot Ones

Hot Ones

as Self

Mar 12, 2015

Empire

Empire

as Cookie Lyon

Jan 7, 2015

Variety Studio: Actors on Actors

Variety Studio: Actors on Actors

as Self

Dec 21, 2014

The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon

The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon

as Self, Self - Guest

Feb 17, 2014

Hollywood Game Night

Hollywood Game Night

as Self

Jul 11, 2013

Person of Interest

Person of Interest

as Joss Carter

Sep 22, 2011

Conan

Conan

as Herself

Nov 8, 2010

The Talk

The Talk

as Self

Oct 18, 2010

RuPaul's Drag Race: Untucked

RuPaul's Drag Race: Untucked

as Self - Guest

Feb 1, 2010

The Cleveland Show

The Cleveland Show

Sep 27, 2009

Watch What Happens Live with Andy Cohen

Watch What Happens Live with Andy Cohen

as Self - Guest

Jul 16, 2009

RuPaul's Drag Race

RuPaul's Drag Race

as Self - Guest Judge

Feb 2, 2009

Eli Stone

Eli Stone

as Angela Scott

Jan 31, 2008

Project Runway

Project Runway

as Self - Guest Judge

Dec 1, 2004

House

House

as Moira

Nov 16, 2004

Boston Legal

Boston Legal

as Whitney Rome

Oct 3, 2004

All of Us

All of Us

Sep 16, 2003

The Ellen DeGeneres Show

The Ellen DeGeneres Show

as Self

Sep 8, 2003

Jimmy Kimmel Live!

Jimmy Kimmel Live!

as Self, Self - Guest

Jan 26, 2003

Half & Half

Half & Half

as Gabrielle

Sep 23, 2002

BET Awards

BET Awards

as Self - Host

Jun 19, 2001

The Division

The Division

as Raina Washington

Jan 7, 2001

CSI: Crime Scene Investigation

CSI: Crime Scene Investigation

as Christina

Oct 6, 2000

Strong Medicine

Strong Medicine

as Crystal

Jul 23, 2000

Felicity

Felicity

as R.A. #2, Art Student

Sep 29, 1998

The View

The View

as Self

Aug 11, 1997

Smart Guy

Smart Guy

as Monique, Leslie

Mar 26, 1997

The Daily Show

The Daily Show

as Self

Jul 22, 1996

Pacific Blue

Pacific Blue

as Rhonda

Mar 2, 1996

The Parent 'Hood

The Parent 'Hood

Jan 18, 1995

ER

ER

as Patrice Robbins, Elan

Sep 19, 1994

Sister, Sister

Sister, Sister

as Briana

Apr 1, 1994

Saved by the Bell: The New Class

Saved by the Bell: The New Class

as Girl

Sep 11, 1993

The Tonight Show with Jay Leno

The Tonight Show with Jay Leno

May 25, 1992

The Simpsons

The Simpsons

as Praline (voice)

Dec 17, 1989

LIVE with Kelly and Mark

LIVE with Kelly and Mark

as Self

Sep 5, 1988

Entertainment Tonight

Entertainment Tonight

as Self

Sep 15, 1981

Saturday Night Live

Saturday Night Live

as Self - Host

Oct 11, 1975

American Music Awards

American Music Awards

as Self - Host

Feb 19, 1974