Exclusive: Taraji P. Henson Admits She Doesn't Want Roles That 'Feel Repetitive': 'I Want To Pick A Character Who Scares Me'

Taraji P. Henson she is known for her dramatic roles, playing Katherine Johnson in Hidden figures and Cookie Lyon Empire — but it can also make people laugh out loud. When the actress searches for her next part of her, she never does he wants to be complacent.

“In terms of how I choose a character, I ask, ‘Does this scare me?’ If it scares me, that’s great. It means it’s challenging and will challenge me,” the 52-year-old, who is collaborating with Amazonia and Alexa as part of Artemis Ithe first of several NASA missions intended to land the first woman and first black person on the moon, tells exclusively Morning honey. “I look for things that scare the shit out of me because I know it’s going to be a challenge, and I also don’t want repetitive roles. I don’t want to repeat a role I’ve already played.”

In fact, the brunette beauty admits that she takes her job very seriously. “I know I have young people eyeballs looking at me“, he claims to be a role model. “Art inspires, art creates life, art saves life. I take my art very seriously because I know how it affects others and how many people can be touched through my art.”

Over the years, Henson has made a name for herself in entertainment and has received numerous accolades, including the Critics’ Choice Television Award for Best Actress in a Drama Series (for Empire), making history as the first black actress in awards history to do so.

“I don’t wake up and go, ‘Hey, I have to be responsible today!’ I hope to be responsible every day. Humans need each other and we make the world go around. I’m interested in humans and our interactions and learning about other cultures. I think art is a great place to do that and you can also teach through your art,” he notes.

“My family made me feel very hopeful,” he adds. “I have friends who surround me and they love me just the way I am. They are not trying to change me and they trusted me. We increase mutual trust. It’s all about the company you keep. If you don’t have the power to look in the mirror and tell yourself you’re the best, then make sure you hang around with the people who will tell you you’re amazing until you find the voice to say it about your own.”

Moving forward, Henson is excited about the upcoming musical remake of The Color Purple. “I play Shug Avery and people will see me sing in a way they didn’t know I could sing,” she says. “I remember when we were going through lockdown during the pandemic and I couldn’t be creative on stage or in front of a lens. I went to my salon and got creative with my nails and hair. because it is therapeutic for me.”

The Oscar winner has big dreams of playing a superhero in the future, as she hasn’t played a “really bad villain.”

“I’m taking meetings that’s for sure,” he says.

Otherwise, Henson cannot choose his favorite role to date. “Every choice I’ve made has brought me here,” he says.

Indeed, on Monday, Nov. 21, Henson’s voice was in space, teaming up Amazonia and Alexa as part of Artemis I Be the first person to interact with Alexa in space from Mission Control in Houston, Texas.

Henson, known for her role in Hidden figures, was tapped for the partnership since the film is “all about space exploration and getting women involved,” she shares. “Makes sense. I loved the idea. I love to continue to be at the forefront of exciting the next generation of engineers and scientists about the future. We won’t be here forever, so we need this next generation to come and push beyond the moon!”

After starring in the landmark film, which debuted in 2016, Henson says it “prompted me to learn more” about space. “I never had an interest in math and science growing up until this movie came along,” she reveals. “I felt so inspired to be interested in STEM and coding, and once the movie came out, the numbers skyrocketed with kids interested in STEM education. Is fantastic.”