Usually the life of the party, a tearful Taraji P. Henson revealed that she is struggling to find the innate happiness that she once possessed prior to her career skyrocketing. The actress and mother of one stopped by the Angie Martinez In Real Life Podcast to discuss her career and current state of mind.
“I’m fighting for my joy everyday, it’s a fight,” Henson said. “I feel like I’m fighting for my life, you know, because I feel like so many people look up and they’re counting on me… I don’t feel like no hero.”
Since 1997, Henson has been on the roll in her acting career, starring in a series of television shows, such as Sister, Sister, ER, Smart Guy, Pacific Blue, and Strong Medicine. Her career trajectory changed when she starred in John Singleton’s Baby Boy as the tight-reigning, hopeless romantic Yvette in 2001. The film became an instant classic and eventually led to her next breakthrough role as Shug, a lovable sex worker, in the 2005 Craig Brewer film Hustle & Flow.
In 2009, she received her first Academy Award acknowledgement for her role as Queenie in The Curious Case of Benjamin Button, starring Brad Pitt, Cate Blanchett, Tilda Swinton, and Mahershala Ali. Her unforgettable performance as Cookie Lyon on the Lee Daniels and Danny Strong nighttime drama Empire also earned the actress three Emmy nominations and a Golden Globe award in 2016. By 2019, Henson had received a star on the Walk of Fame.
Even with all the accolades, Henson, like any human, has her own personal challenges that she deals with daily. Born on Sept. 11, she attributes much of her pain to being an empath and being depleted by the responsibility of having to keep everyone else’s energy up, while juggling a heavy crown.
“For me, for the Virgo sign, it’s the perfection thing,” Henson continued in the interview. “I didn’t sign up for this for the fame. I’m very clear on why I do what I do. Art can change and affect lives in the most positive way if you handle it properly. I’m clear on why God gave me this gift. It’s bigger than me.”
How does she deal with it all? By being completely transparent, relying on her faith, and choosing a reaction that is based in love over violence. A month-long, self-trip to Bali to clear her mind also helps.
Henson’s In Real Life interview is available now on Angie Martinez’s YouTube channel.
