In 2016, Time named Henson one of the 100 most influential people in the world. [50], On March 16, 2015, she was a guest co-host on Live! In 2010, she appeared in the action comedy Date Night, and co-starred in the remake of The Karate Kid. [26] In March she starred in the film Tyler Perry's Acrimony as a faithful wife who, after tiring of standing by her husband, is enraged when she believes herself betrayed. She took on a teaching job at a black public school in Marion, Virginia. Taraji Penda Henson[1][2] (/təˈrɑːdʒi/ tə-RAH-jee; born September 11, 1970) is an American actress. [1] She attended North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University, where she intended to study electrical engineering, before transferring to Howard University to study drama. Alpha Kappa Alpha Hidden Figures Janelle Monae John Glenn Katherine Johnson NASA space race Taraji P. Henson Technology Black Girls Code Makes Cameo on Fox’s ‘Empire’ She reprised the role in the film's sequel, Think Like a Man Too, released in June 2014.[25]. 48.4K SharesShare48.4KTweetYou might not know it, but the women of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority Inc. have some pretty strong connections to NASA and space travel. Taraji P. Henson is set to play the main role. ", "Taraji P. Henson to Star in 'What Men Want' for Paramount Players", "Paramount Players Plots 'What Men Want'; 'Empire's Taraji P. Henson To Star", "Empire's Taraji P. Henson And Danny Strong Re-Team On Robin Bissell-Helmed 'The Best Of Enemies, "Taraji P. Henson to Star in and Produce Film on Emmett Till", "Taraji P. Henson Nabs Female Lead in Fox's Lee Daniels Hip-Hop Drama 'Empire, "Lee Daniels' 'Empire' picked up by Fox, will 'likely' film in Chicago", "Cookie Monster: How Cookie Lyon Became the Most Compelling Character on TV", "Just Give Taraji P. Henson the Emmy Already", "Taraji P. Henson to Host Second Annual Fox Holiday Special", "Taraji P. Henson To Develop 'Empire' Spin-Off At FOX", "Unexpected Dreams: Songs from the Stars", "Tyrese "Stay" (official music video) feat. "[63], In February 2015, Henson posed in an ad for the NOH8 Campaign supporting the LGBT community. Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc.® is not responsible for the design or content of this website. [citation needed] She has often spoken of the influence of her maternal grandmother, Patsy Ballard, who accompanied her at the Academy Awards the year she was nominated. She is also a member of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc. Vic Jagger continues to represent for her hometown and can be heard weekdays with the Russ Parr Morning Show from 6-10am and Middays 10a-3p for "VJ In The Midday". She enrolled at West Virginia State College where she took every math course that the school offered. Head to theaters on Jan. 6 to see this # DSTRedCarpet film and be sure to take a picture of yourself using the hashtag! Alpha Kappa Alpha Hidden Figures Janelle Monae John Glenn Katherine Johnson NASA space race Taraji P. Henson Arts and Culture Lifestyle … $1 for 3 months. MEMBERSHIP. In 2010 she appeared in the remake of The Karate Kid with Jaden Smith. [46] Henson and the group performed the song at the live Oscar ceremony on March 5, 2006. Taraji P. Henson is an Academy Award-nominated actress, producer, and mental health advocate. [24], In 2012, Henson was in the large ensemble cast film Think Like A Man, based on Steve Harvey's 2009 book Act Like a Lady, Think Like a Man. [42] At the 46th NAACP Image Awards she was named the 2015 Entertainer of the Year for her roles in Empire and No Good Deed. Brewer is a Spelman College graduate and a member of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc. She will officially start her new role in October. [5], Henson was born September 11, 1970 in Southeast Washington, D.C., the daughter of Bernice (née Gordon), a corporate manager at Woodward & Lothrop, and Boris Lawrence Henson, a janitor and metal fabricator. [48], Henson has made several appearances in music videos and television. Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc. - Service to All Mankind Since 1908. Then there’s Wilberforce University grad Vaughan, who joined the Zeta Chapter of Alpha Kappa Alpha at Wilberforce University in 1926: “…She was born on Sept. 20, 1910, in Kansas City, Mo., and obtained her Bachelor of Science in 1929 from Wilberforce University in Xenia, Ohio. She was born in Washington, D.C., and raised in an apartment that she described as “one step up from the projects”. As detailed below, she made her singing debut in the film, which was nominated for two Academy awards and won one. Taraji P. Henson Will Voice a Character in Wreck-It-Ralph 2 Who Name-Drops Oh My Disney! 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