Taraji P. Henson (INTERVIEW)
Taraji P. Henson
The “From the Rough” Interview
with Kam Williams
You Gotta See Taraji!
Taraji P. Henson earned an Academy
Award nomination for Best Supporting Actress opposite Brad Pitt in David
Fincher’s THE CURIOUS CASE OF BENJAMIN BUTTON. She is a 2011 Emmy-nominee for
Best Actress in a Movie or Miniseries for Lifetime’s TAKEN FROM ME. Taraji also
starred as Detective Joss Carter in the highly-rated CBS crime drama PERSON OF
INTEREST. She was a series regular on BOSTON LEGAL and enjoyed a recurring role on ELI STONE.
On the big screen, she starred in the #1
box office hit THINK LIKE A MAN, as
well as in its upcoming sequel, THINK LIKE A MAN, TOO. And in September, she’ll be starring opposite Idris Elba in NO GOOD DEED.
Taraji’s additional credits include LARRY
CROWNE, THE KARATE KID, DATE NIGHT, I CAN DO BAD ALL BY
MYSELF, PEEP WORLD, THE GOOD
DOCTOR, SOMETHING NEW, NOT EASILY BROKEN, HURRICANE SEASON, THE FAMILY THAT PREYS SMOKIN’ ACES and ONCE FALLEN. In addition, she received
rave reviews for her work in TALK TO ME and HUSTLE & FLOW, making her
singing debut performing the Academy Award-winning song “It’s Hard out Here for
a Pimp” on the Oscar telecast.
Taraji is well remembered for her role
as Yvette opposite Tyrese in BABY BOY, and collaborated with director John
Singleton a third time on FOUR BROTHERS. Plus, she was featured in Jamie Foxx’s
music video “Just Like Me” and also appeared in Estelle’s “Pretty Please.”
Born and raised in Washington,
DC, the Howard
University graduate resides in Los Angeles with her son,
Marcel. She dedicates much of her spare time to helping disabled and less
fortunate children.
Here, she talks about her new film, FROM
THE ROUGH, an inspirational biopic where she portrays Catana Starks, the African-American
trailblazer who became the first female to coach an NCAA Division-1 men’s team
when she accepted the reins of the golf squad at Tennessee State.
Kam
Williams: Hi Taraji, thanks for the interview.
Taraji P. Henson:
Oh, no worries, Kam.
KW:
What interested you in this film?
TPH:
Well, first of all, I’d never seen a movie about a female coach before, outside
of that Goldie Hawn comedy from years ago, Wildcats. And I had certainly never
seen an African-American woman portrayed this way in a drama. That was the
first thing that interested me. Then, when I read the script, I went, “Wow!
What an amazing story!” She had all the odds stacked against her, yet she and
her team won. And it was all because of the tenacity and belief and passion
that she instilled in her players.
KW:
I had never heard of Catana Starks before seeing this film.
Why do you think she’s so unheralded?
TPH:
Honestly, I don’t know. Maybe, because she didn’t coach at an Ivy League or big
name school, but at an historically-black university. That’s another reason why
I did the film. I felt the world needed to know about this woman, which is what
we’re trying to do now.
KW:
Editor/Legist Patricia Turnier asks: Are you an athletic person? In other words, what are
the similarities and differences between you and Catana Starks?
TPH:
[Chuckles] I’m not really an athlete, though I’m quite capable of playing one
on TV or film. [LOL] I’ve been to the driving range, and I do have good
hand-eye coordination, but that’s about it. I’m not going to try to play
basketball.
KW:
Patricia also asks: What does Catana Starks mean to you and how did you prepare
for the role?
TPH: She means the world to me, because she proved that you can accomplish anything in life as long as you believe, have faith and work hard. How did I prepare for the role? I spent a lot of time at the driving range and talking to Dr. Starks before filming. Because she wasn’t a recognizable figure, I wasn’t worried about walking or sounding like her, I just wanted to bring her essence to life. And that’s all she was concerned about too.
TPH: She means the world to me, because she proved that you can accomplish anything in life as long as you believe, have faith and work hard. How did I prepare for the role? I spent a lot of time at the driving range and talking to Dr. Starks before filming. Because she wasn’t a recognizable figure, I wasn’t worried about walking or sounding like her, I just wanted to bring her essence to life. And that’s all she was concerned about too.
KW:
Has she seen the film? What did
she think of it?
TPH:
Yes she has, and I think she’s quite happy about it.
KW:
Patricia closes by saying: I really enjoyed your performance and your character,
Lauren, in Think like a Man.
I can't wait to see Think like a Man Too this summer. Is there anything
you can share about the sequel without spoiling it?
TPH: We go to Vegas, and one of the couples is getting married, but I can’t say who it is. It is hilarious! Some people say it’s funnier than the first one. But you be the judge, Patricia.
TPH: We go to Vegas, and one of the couples is getting married, but I can’t say who it is. It is hilarious! Some people say it’s funnier than the first one. But you be the judge, Patricia.
KW:
Environmental activist Grace Sinden says: You've had a
successful career in movies and television. What aspect of your work has given
you the greatest satisfaction?
TPH:
What gives me the greatest satisfaction is the number of people I can affect
with my gift, with what I do. That’s the most important thing to me, more
important than any trophy or award.
.
KW: Grace
has a follow-up. Do you want your son to have a life in show business?
TPH:
I want him to find his own passion, whatever that is. I just want him to be
happy and successful in whatever he decides to do.
KW:
Robin Beckham of PittsburghUrbanMedia says: It was recently reported that Jaden Smith and Jackie Chan are making
a sequel to Karate Kid. Will you be rejoining the cast as Jaden’s mother?
TPH:
I hope so, if that rumor’s true.
KW:
Harriet Pakula-Teweles says: I'm really sorry you
got killed off on the TV show Person of Interest. You work with ease in movies,
music and TV. Which of these media is your favorite and how does it best show
your talents?
TPH:
I would have to say movies are my favorite. I love doing TV, too, but it’s
always rush, rush, rush. With a feature film, those moments and scenes get a
chance to breathe, because you don’t have to accomplish as much in one day.
KW: Documentary
filmmaker/professor and author Hisani Dubose says: Not many African-American
actors have the juice to greenlight a project. She’s wondering whether you
are in a position to get a project that you like greenlighted?
TPH:
I’m getting there. Hopefully, the success of From the Rough will help, because
you first have to prove that you’re bankable at the box office, before you can
greenlight anything. So, I hope to have that kind of leverage after this film.
KW:
Could you say something controversial that would get this
interview tweeted?
TPH:
I don’t know. I could say a lot of things.
KW:
When I asked Marlon Wayans that, he said, “Yeah, I could,
but it might end my career.”
TPH:
Yeah, totally. [Chuckles]
KW:
The Sanaa Lathan question: What excites you?
TPH:
Life! Just waking up everyday, and having another chance to get it right.
KW:
The bookworm Troy Johnson question: What was the last book
you read?
TPH:
“I Declare” by Joel Osteen.
KW:
The Kerry Washington question: If you were an animal, what
animal would you be?
TPH:
Probably a bird. I like anything with feathers that can fly.
KW:
The Anthony Anderson question: If you could have a superpower, which one would
you choose?
TPH:
I think I’d like to be able to control the weather, like Storm [the character
from the X-Men].
KW:
The Anthony Mackie question: Is there
anything that you promised yourself you’d do if you became famous, that you
still haven’t done yet?
TPH:
Yes, visit Africa. I haven’t done that
yet.
KW:
Attorney Bernadette Beekman asks: What is your favorite
charity?
TPH:
A charity that my best friend since 7th grade started called Art
Creates Life. [ http://www.artcreateslife.org/
] She raises money to take inner-city children to Africa.
Isn’t that crazy? I donate and I support that organization, but I’ve never been
to Africa myself. I’ve sent a lot of kids
there, though.
KW:
That’s funny! The Melissa Harris-Perry question: How did your first big heartbreak impact who you are as a person?
TPH:
It proved to me that what doesn’t kill you makes you stronger.
KW:
The Viola Davis question: What’s the biggest difference between who you are at
home as opposed to the person we see on the red carpet?
TPH:
I’m pretty much the same. I’m consistent. There aren’t two me’s. There is only
one me. I can only be myself, and that’s who I always am whether I’m at home or
on the carpet.
KW:
Thanks again for the time, Taraji. I really appreciate it. Good
luck with the film.
TPH:
Thank you so much, Kam.
To see a trailer for
From the Rough, visit: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lKYfKidQnOQ
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