(WSVN) - Taraji P. Henson steals the show as Cookie every week on “Empire.” And we’ve gotten so used to seeing her as Cookie, we forget how great she is in other roles. Now, Taraji is starring in a new movie called “Hidden Figures,” and tells Deco why she went straight from filming “Empire” to doing this with no break in between.
Taraji P. Henson (as Cookie): “The first thing you do is get to talking slick out your mouth.”
We know her best as Cookie, the always outspoken and always fashionable star of FOX’s hit show “Empire.” It’s a breakout role that seems tailor-made for Taraji P. Henson, who has been acting for 20 years.
Taraji P. Henson: “I”ve been doing this for some time. And I’ve been able to do it under the radar and live my life and still shop at Target without looking like the Unabomber.”
And Taraji’s career just keeps growing. She’s set to play Katherine Johnson, a mathematician who worked at NASA in the 1960s and helped the U.S. win the space race.
Taraji P. Henson (as Katherine Johnson): “We’re just on our way to work at NASA, sir.”
Ron Clinton Smith (as White Cop): “I had no idea they hired…”
Octavia Spencer (as Dorothy Vaughn): “There’s quite a few women working in the space program.”
Taraji P. Henson: “Who knew that women had anything to do with men getting to the moon? Who knew? You see all the footage, all the documentaries, and you just see a room full of smoking men.”
Taraji says it was a role she knew she wanted, but it wasn’t easy, especially coming straight from eight months of filming on “Empire.”
Taraji P. Henson: “It was the hardest thing I ever had to do, because I’m used to supporting movies. I’ve never carried a show and then moved on to carrying a film. That was hard, but worth it for Catherine Johnson’s story.”
“Hidden Figures” is set for release on Jan. 13 and also stars Octavia Spencer, Janelle Monáe and Kevin Costner.
Taraji P. Henson (as Katherine Johnson): “They let women do some things at NASA, Mr. Johnson, and not because we are wearing skirts, but because we wear glasses.”
Taraji P Henson: “I’m interested in work that’s going to be talked about long after I’m gone, and challenging and pushing myself. And so, when that role comes, I can’t turn it down. Why walk away from incredible role like Katherine Johnson? Why? Because I’m tired? I don’t have time to be tired.”
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