Black History Month: The Rise of Taraji
Thursday, February 26, 2015 at 4:03PM Our Oscary spotlight on Black History Month continues with Matthew Eng on the currently very hot Taraji P. Henson
It’s one thing to nab yourself a lead role on a juicy, mega-hit network drama with a mind-blowing, week-to-week ratings surge. But to be the undeniable breakout star of said TV show, to act circles around your leading man and everyone else on screen, to inspire tepid critics to unanimously single out your performance, to remain the number one (some would say only) reason to tune in, and to snatch yourself an actual catchphrase within the pilot? That’s a whole other heap of achievements entirely.
Taraji P. Henson is having a great year, which is an especially exciting thing to write, because, to my mind, few working actresses (much less working actresses of color) deserve it more. Henson’s such a reliably loose, shrewd, and engrossing performer that she carries a certain kind of built-in assurance for audiences: no matter the part or project, you can be sure that at least one professional has showed up to work and you better believe she will be giving it her absolute all. This kind of noticeable, on-camera go-for-broke-ness can often be applied for better and worse, but Taraji’s almost certainly in the former camp; she knows when to reign it in and how to modulate this quality from scene-to-scene and film-to-film, while remaining an exciting and involving on-screen presence.
It’s strange then and somewhat disappointing that the performance for which Henson received her first and (so far) only Oscar nomination as Best Supporting Actress for David Fincher’s The Curious Case of Benjamin Button is, in many ways, one of her most boring. Had Oscar voters not seen through the fraudulent "supporting" campaign for Kate Winslet, Taraji might not have been there at all for this true-blue supporting performance...
But nonetheless the film could’ve used her to better, more engaging effect and, truthfully, could’ve used her more, period. Henson’s Benjamin Button turn isn’t a particularly weak performance by any stretch, but based on sheer memorability, it pales considerably when paired alongside past supporting efforts by this same actress and ultimately can’t hold a candle next to nominees as inspired as Vicky Cristina Barcelona champ Penélope Cruz, Doubt’s Viola Davis, and especially The Wrestler’s Marisa Tomei. As Queenie, the adoptive, adoring mama to Brad Pitt’s Gumpish, backwards-aging title character, Henson is required to embody little else besides the intrinsic, unprejudiced love of a mother-cum-black helpmeet. It’s a role that perpetually lives in Oscar’s wheelhouse, but there’s nothing new or exceptionally noteworthy about Henson’s interpretation, which should’ve been better aided by a director who, frankly, could stand to pay a little more attention to performance in general.
Henson has some lovely, early chemistry with Mahershala Ali as her live-in companion and strikes a fine, unshowy balance between loving Benjamin while also desiring a child of her own lineage. But, quite simply, there’s just not enough of Henson amid all the sepia-soaked period locales and digitalized Brad dolls. And when Henson is there, it’s often to briefly scold Benjamin for largely being a dimwit or to beam at him with all the care and goodness her soul can possibly hold, and she’s the first one to tell a newborn Benjamin that “You never know what’s coming for you,” the film’s central line of unprecedented wisdom that was all but written for the Oscar montage. Queenie is clearly written as the heart of Benjamin Button (i.e. Mrs. Gump as a black woman) but she’s a scarcely-seen heart all the same, and if Henson’s main task in the film can be boiled down to being loved and missed, then she succeeds solely on the basis that it’s damn near impossible not to love and miss Taraji P. Henson. But surely there are more challenging assignments for a performer this adept?
For Prime Henson, the place to begin is, of course, her breakout role in Craig Brewer’s Hustle and Flow, where she’s emotionally vivid and heartbreakingly hopeful as Shug, a pregnant prostitute in love with Terrence Howard’s musically ambitious, Memphis pimp. It’s the performance that should’ve netted Henson a first Oscar nomination, although I’m also partial to her show-stopping turn in Kasi Lemmons’ Petey Greene biopic Talk to Me, where she serves up some saucy, big Afro’d sixties realness as Don Cheadle’s brash girlfriend Vernell. Henson nails the comedy of the character, but she’s also delivering a performance, not a punch line, and so she’s subtly, quietly terrific in scenes like a late-film extension of the olive branch between Vernell and Chiwetel Ejiofor’s estranged friend/manager. Henson hasn’t gotten nearly the opportunities she deserves in recent years, although I’m intrigued by her Tyler Perry collaborations in The Family that Preys and I Can Do Bad All By Myself in, respectively, supporting and leading lady capacities.
I’ve only watched a few Empire episodes so far, and Henson is every bit the showstopper she’s being pitched as, courting Grand Diva ostentation and getting her laughs while also delivering in the necessary emotional register and coming across as an actual, multifaceted human being. That she does all of this looking fiercer than even recurring guest star Naomi Fucking Campbell can manage and while convincingly spouting some of the nuttiest dialogue ever heard in any Lee Daniels project is, for an audience, like having one's cake and gobbling it up it for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. Henson’s Cookie Lyon frequently looks like she gobbled up Claire Underwood, Alicia Florrick, and Olivia Pope for breakfast, lunch, and dinner, and I love her all the more for it.
I also love that Henson has been so funny, frank, and insightful on the Empire press campaign, as proud and persuasive of the program she’s headlining as she is of her own performance and other current achievements. After all, not every performer has the enthusiastic gumption to use a presenting gig at the recent Directors Guild Awards to tell a roomful of mostly white filmmakers, “Directors, I need a movie!” Henson has proven, time and time again, that she has the ambition, the work ethic, and, most importantly, the talent that should by all means open her up to better scripts, rangier roles, and primer directors.
Are you listening, Hollywood?
Reader Comments (39)
I'm scared that with such a diverse year in TV, The Emmys will ignore her and others. Fingers crossed that doesn't happen!
I need to start watching Empire. I've been waiting for Henson to blow up my screen since her hilarious work in Talk To Me. We all know that Oscar nod was just playing catch up. (I tried to hang in there for Person of Interest, but not so much.)
I dont think even the Emmys are stupid enough to deny this performance next year!
She was gr8 in No Good Deed which gave her a BO hit.
Taraji will rule every award next year. They cannot ignore the performance, the ratings and the pedigree. Her only real competition is Marguilies (who gets better and better) but I expect to see several new faces (Leoni for one and who knows what other break outs we will see).
So what's her catchphrase?
Are you listening, Hollywood?
Are you listening patriarchal white supremacy? AFAIK the black audience discovered her in Baby Boy (2001).
I really like Taraji's work as Queenie. Various reasons, especially because how it avoids the quintessential roles she usually plays. She's a force on screen, but proves it in a different way in BUTTON. True, she's on the edges of the film, but that's what makes it very solid supporting work. Her introduction to the film flirting with Mahershala on the steps is just lovely. The picture of her above with baby-Benjamin for example in a single frame her warmth shines through. Of course, an emotion like warm or general kindness isn't especially unusual but up until Benjamin goes off to war she's grounding the film, for me, and thereafter she's offering vivid work from the sidelines. Actressing from the edges as Stinklylulu would say.
(I never really thought of HUSTLE & FLOW as Taraji's breakout role but in retrospect I suppose for white audiences in particular it must have been. For me the breakthrough for her is her work in Singleton's BABY BOY where she's pretty fantastic, if rough around the edges.)
I'm a big fan of Taraji's and happy she's getting so much recognition this year. She's been fabulous in everything she's been in. Unfortunately, that often means being far better than the movie she's in. The two Tyler Perry flicks and Think Like a Man Too all come to mind. Her work in Talk to Me has been criminally ignored as has the movie as a whole. On Empire she seems to have melded all of the reality TV housewives (Hollywood, basketball, hip hop, and otherwise) with Joan Collins' character on Dynasty and created a delightfully trashy monster.
Taraji P. Henson is just great. I had a blast watching her in Talk to Me where she stole the film from everyone. She should be in that circle of top actresses right now because she's so good.
/3rtful -- do you have to do the "patriarchal white supremacy" thing in every post ? THE FILM EXPERIENCE is doing its part -- we've always championed diversity in film -- long before it was hip to complain about it -- but it's discouraging when comments are always so negative.
Matthew - thanks for writing this. I love EMPIRE. and yeah, it's because of her I can take or leave everything else though the hour usually flies by. She's fun without being ONLY fun and she's a force without being too forceful. It's diva work but in a really "shrewd and loose" way as you pay it.
@David: the Emmys are EXACTLY that stupid and they have an even worse track record with black actors than the Oscars.
My hope is that both Taraji and Viola Davis get nominated and Taraji wins (because quite frankly her role and her series is better) but I'm worried that (like the Oscars) the Emmys will think they can only choose one token black nominee per category and simply replace Kerry Washington with Viola Davis and call it a day. Believe me, this outcome has a VERY high chance of happening.
Obviously the best outcome would be for Washington, David and Henson to ALL make it in the Lead Actress in a Drama category with Henson winning, but I'm not holding my breath.
Although it bums me out there are only a few episodes left, I'm glad they're paring down from a usual network season.
Taraji P. Henson is fucking EVERYTHING in this role, vivacious and graceful and layered and complex and fun - but I shouldn't be surprised since it's a Lee Daniels project and I feel like I can trust him to get greatness out of actresses.
"and especially The Wrestler’s Marisa Tomei."
???
That was the weakest on the nominees, no brainer. Henson stands on a much more solid ground in "TCoBB", even when "The Wrestler" is (by far) the superior movie.
The problem in Hollywood relies (in big part) to the unintentional internalized racism by the film connoisseur audience that when it comes to performances, they prefer to rely on mediocre or bland performances done by caucasian actors instead of searching for works by actors of color.
Lupita's dress was stolen from her hotel. $150,000 worth of pearls. Unlike diamonds they aren't marked so the dress will probably be dismantled and sold in pieces.
@Nathaniel, SO glad you're enjoying Empire as much as I am and would love to hear your thoughts on it in a future post. And of course, I hope you recover soon from that nasty (and ill-timed) cold.
Oops. Got that on the wrong thread.
And just like that I read that Joan Allen is coming to television in a series for ABC.
do you have to do the "patriarchal white supremacy" thing in every post ?
Must you disagree with the description?
Jase -- agreed that that could happen but don't personally think Kerry Washington is anywhere close to deserving a nomination at this point. I watch Scandal sometimes but she's not bringing anything particularly new to the role after the first couple of years and she's never surprising in her beats or delivery. It'd be fine if there weren't so many other actresses just turning it out who aren't getting nominated..
I'd be much happier if Emmy really shook things up (fat chance i know). made room for Taraji and Viola and forgot all about Scandal and really looked at what a rich field they have to choose froml.
last year's nominees
JULIANNA MARGUILES - the good wife
LIZZY CAPLAN - masters of sex
CLAIRE DANES - homeland
MICHELLE DOCKERY - downton abbey
ROBIN WRIGHT - house of cards
KERRY WASHINGTON - scandal
first time eligible
RUTH WILSON - the affair
TAYLOR SCHILLING - orange is the new black (moving to drama)
VIOLA DAVIS - how to get away with murder
TARAJI P HENSON - empire
HAYLEY ATWELL - agent carter
TEA LEONI - madame secretary
??? - if someone campaigns lead from The Leftovers
CAITRIONA BALFE - outlander
plus former nominees still on the air
ELISABETH MOSS - mad men
VERA FARMIGA - bates motel
CONNIE BRITTON - nashville
still waiting for the nomination despite great reviews / well liked shows
TATIANA MASLANY - orphan black
KERI RUSSELL - the americans
EMMY ROSSUM - shameless
and i'm sure i forgot a dozen people.
Nathaniel: That is one awesome, wealth of actresses.
Okay from that list, which probably covers most of the people who could reasonably expect the nod? Danes, Wright (she's not bad, but Claire Underwood is repetitive and simple work without an obvious arc) and Washington are probably going to get switched out. Replacements: Davis and P. Henson are pretty much locked in, but that last slot is probably between Schilling (not bad, but Schilling (and Laura Prepon) are really more the hook to start watching than the reason to keep watching, such that I wouldn't mind if the show was nominated but Schilling's work got passed over) and Atwell (PLEASE let her be nominated over Schilling in Actress, even if Agent Carter doesn't get a series nod. I know it's unlikely, but, due to it's sprawling cast, Orange works in spite of Schilling not quite working, Carter, with a regular cast 1/5 the size of Orange's regular cast, would have FAILED if Atwell failed.)
I didn't think Taraji had a chance in hell at being nominated at the Emmys, no matter how great she is, until I found out how great these ratings are. Like, incredible. I don't think they'll be able to ignore it. I sure hope not.
I do think Kerry Washington is out at this point, though. Viola is in for sure. I hope Taraji can find her way in too. I could see them giving it to Viola, and it'd be awesome for her to be the first black actress to win it, but her show sucks. So I'd rather Taraji win. I think she truly deserves it. Screw the other nominees, lol.
And I thought she was so great in Hustle and Flow. She did her job (and it was a solid job) in Benjamin Button but it wasn't life changing. Thank goodness they recognized Kate Winslet's category fraud, though, like you said, otherwise Taraji wouldn't have been nominated.
Volvagia - I think Taylor Schilling is amazing in OITNB! She's far from the most interesting, but that's why she's the protag and everyone bounces off of her. I think she does fantastic work though.
Henry -- right? it's incredible. So i'm always hoping voters will really "consider" and not just pick the same names every time. That said, I kind of worship Michelle Dockery who a lot of people think is one of the coasters in the category every year. I'm basically obsessed with Lady Mary but anyone who has been nominated a few times should probably be put out to pasture unless they're topping themselves each time (which almost no one does including Dockery).
This is my chief problem with the Emmys... and I guess TV too to a lesser degree. It's so repetitive.
Philip - - yeah i read that it just beat BIG BANG THEORY for the first time in one demo so it could well become the #1 network show if it keeps building like this.
• Peggy Sue - It's "Boo Boo Kitty", in reference to her ex-husband's horrid new fiancée, and it's hilarious every time she says it.
• re: Emmys - I don't really see Taraji getting any love from them, unfortunately, and especially with the annoying business of Viola taking Kerry's "spot" (annoying in that there's only one open spot for black actresses, obviously), I can't imagine her getting in for a show that even some of those who love it regard as a glorified nighttime soap. I anticipate and actively hope for some Globes appreciation though, at the very, very least. In general, I'm sure this Emmy roster of drama gals will look a lot different than last year's, with Viola, Taylor Schilling, and a final season Elisabeth Moss all total likelihoods.
@Nathaniel, thanks for your reply and I co-sign EVERYTHING you said about the wealth of leading actresses on TV, and on how uninteresting Scandal has become.
I also hope the song category at the Emmys finds room for a couple of tunes from Empire since Timbaland is ding terrific work there.
We really are in the golden age of television huh? That's an amazing list. Your biggest emissions are probably Katey Segal from Sons of Anarchy, Katheryn Winnick from Vikings and the American Horror Story Ladies (or does that count as comedy?).
I haven't seen Empire, Nashville or Madam Secretary. And I haven't seen the most recent season of the all of the remaining ladies, but based on what I have seen (even if an older season), my list of best performances would be:
TATIANA MASLANY - orphan black
KERI RUSSELL - the americans
ELISABETH MOSS - mad men
VIOLA DAVIS - how to get away with murder
EMMY ROSSUM - shameless
Runner Ups:
JULIANNA MARGUILES - the good wife
LIZZY CAPLAN - masters of sex
I think she's a great actress, but SO GOSH DARN ANNOYING in person. Her interviews are truly grating. I know this shouldn't affect how I perceive her but it really does.
This is the biggest show network TV has has in years. The Emmys would be so stupid to ignore it.
Joe your feelings on Henson are mine on Mo'Nique hence me having zero sympathy for the deserved Hollywood blackballing.
anonny - from my understanding the AHS ladies will continue to compete in "miniseries"
i am loving taraji's cookie! I think it'll be hard for her to be ignored by the emmys this year with the show being such a huge hit and playing such a showy character. but like everyone has stated, there are soooo many good performances happening on tv right now. I also want to throw out eva green in PENNY DREADFUL to the mix. she'll never be nominated because she's on a genre show (just ask tatiana maslany), but her work in that first season was phenomenal! she deserves all the awards for that séance scene alone in the second episode!
I want to second matthew's endorsement for taraji's Oscar nomination coming from HUSTLE AND FLOW. she was my favorite part of that film and was surprised that there wasn't more talk about her at the time. but whenever I think of her, i remember a conversation i overheard on the subway between two older ladies at the time of BENJAMIN BUTTON. this woman was saying, "that young actress tarajji p. mark my words, she's gonna be a big star." now, with EMPIRE it looks like her prediction is coming true...
Are we forgetting about Eva Green? I don't think she'll get nominated, but she has to be as likely and SURELY more worthy than Leoni, Atwell, or Balfe. All of whom are good, but "good" shouldn't be enough. Holding out hope for Moss to really have some opportunities in this upcoming Mad Men season. Until then, I'm already sad thinking about how only one of my current top five(in order: Russel, Maslany, Henson, Green, and Rossum) will get a nom. That one being Henson as those ratings are just too big to ignore.
Omg. I forgot about Green. She is just terrific
Considering that "Empire" is the type of hit that ALL of network television (not just a "black" series or a Fox series, but ALL) DESPERATELY needs right now, the television academy would prove its total tone-deafness and stupidity by not recognizing "Empire," particularly by nominating Henson. I think it's fascinating how this time last year so many of us were rooting for Davis in "How to Get Away with Murder," completely unaware that arriving soon after would be a much more interesting drama with a far more compelling black female lead. I did a Google search of "Cookie Lyon" which yielded page after page of commentaries addressing how she is currently the most enthralling character on TV RIGHT NOW. Most of that is thanks to Taraji's willingness to go there, all the way there in every respect.
@Troy H
I want Viola to take the Emmy regardless of the quality of Henson's work. My bitterness behind her Best Actress loss for The Help knows no bounds.
3rtful: I wouldn't be upset in the least if Davis eventually were to win the Emmy, but Henson as it stands is definitely my preference.
I would also like to add that seeing buzzy dramatic series headlined by talented black actresses has been THE highlight of this current TV season for me. Hell, I'll even throw in a liitle love for that uneven but peculiarly entertaining Halle Berry sci-fi drama from last summer as well.