Taraji P. Henson Covers ‘Glamour,’ Talks ‘Empire’ Success
Taraji P. Henson has a busy September ahead of her. Not only will she be returning to the small screen as the beloved Cookie Lyon on Fox’s hits how Empire, but she’s also nominated for an Emmy in the outstanding lead actress category and is the cover model for Glamour magazine’s most recent issue.
On the cover, the 44-year-old actress looks vibrant in an orange cut-out dress with a metallic belt.
Inside the issue, Henson discussed her cross-culture success through her role as Cookie Lyon.
“She is everybody’s alter ego. She crosses cultures,” she says of the character. “[Last year] we went to Paris and screened the pilot for a thousand people. Lee Daniels [the series’ cocreator] brought me onstage. The audience stood up on their feet and clapped. I cried because, for so long in Hollywood, I’ve been told that black women don’t do well overseas, that they can’t open a film overseas. That moment for me was the best moment of my life. That’s better than any trophy, any award, any nomination. You know how they say music can heal the world? I feel that way about art in general.”
One of the things that draw viewers to Cookie’s character is her major confidence. Though it may seem like it would be difficult to maintain that confidence in reality, Henson says it’s not.
“I don’t think about other people,” she explained. “They are not walking in my shoes. They are not paying my bills. What makes me happy is when I do what I like to do, for me.”
Henson will be returning to television screens when Empire premieres on Sept. 23..
For more from the interview, click here.
(Photo Credit: Steven Pan/Glamour)
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