‘I had to take control’: Meet Taraji P. Henson, 50 Cent’s new partner, who fired her entire management team after discovering a huge pay discrepancy during the height of Empire’s fame . Meet Taraji P. Henson – the star of 50 Cent’s Power series – and discover her life after 10 years on the series that will surprise you. (Exploitation angle: From a strong female lead on screen to a single mother struggling in Hollywood, with candid sharing about mental health and an ambitious new film project.)
The Unbreakable Cookie: Taraji P. Henson’s Battle for Self and Success
Taraji P. Henson is a powerhouse star who captivated millions of viewers with her role as the fierce matriarch Cookie Lyon on the hit TV series Empire (2015–2020). While she was initially billed as 50 Cent’s co-star in Power , recent industry news has revealed that they are collaborating on a highly anticipated new project: Henson will star in the Peacock adaptation of 50 Cent’s novel The Accomplice , proving her continued presence as a top actor and producer.
Henson’s on-screen success, however, is only a small part of the off-screen journey of challenges, perseverance and fierce struggle that has shaped her. Her story is a relentless journey of a single mother fighting against the rigid Hollywood system, reaching a powerful new chapter as a mental health advocate .
💸 Years of struggle: A single mother in Hollywood
Before earning Golden Globe and Emmy nominations for her role in Empire and an Oscar nomination for her role as Queenie in The Curious Case of Benjamin Button (2008), Henson was a single mother struggling to survive in Los Angeles. She gave birth to her son, Marcell, while still in college at Howard University and moved to Hollywood with just $700 in her pocket.
Henson has been candid about the financial and emotional toll of being a single parent in a demanding industry. She often worked multiple jobs—including as a secretary at the Pentagon and as a song-and-dance waitress—to support her son while pursuing her acting dreams. In interviews and her memoir Around the Way Girl , she shared that being a single mother “almost broke her” and that she wouldn’t wish it on her “worst enemy ,” highlighting the immense sacrifice required.
Key Data Point: After Empire ended, Henson spoke out publicly about her struggles with pay disparity in Hollywood, revealing that even at the height of Empire ‘s fame , “the numbers didn’t match up” with her male co-stars, leading her to fire her entire management team for failing to capitalize on her massive success with endorsements and deals. She shared in an interview that they had “nothing lined up” for her after the show other than an idea for another Cookie spin-off, and she told them, “You’re all fired.”
💖 New mission: Advocating for mental health
The most important and influential part of Henson’s life after Empire has been her commitment to mental health advocacy , particularly in the African-American community. This struggle is deeply personal: she has struggled with her own anxiety and depression, and her late father, Boris Lawrence Henson (a Vietnam veteran), battled serious mental health issues after his discharge.
- Boris Lawrence Henson Foundation (BLHF): Founded in 2018 and named after her father, this nonprofit is dedicated to removing the stigma around mental illness in the Black community and increasing access to culturally competent mental health services .BLHF has offered free therapy sessions to people experiencing financial hardship, emphasizing the importance of having support from professionals who understand their unique experiences.
- The Power of Vulnerability: Henson launched her Emmy-nominated Facebook Watch series, Peace of Mind with Taraji , to showcase real, candid conversations about mental health, proving that sharing your struggles is a sign of strength , not weakness.
🎬 Ambitious New Projects: Producer and Female Lead
Henson is now using her star power to take control of her career behind the scenes. Her recent work shows a focus on complex female roles and a growing list of producing roles:
- The Color Purple (2023): She stars in the musical film adaptation as the memorable and complex character Shug Avery . Critics have praised Shug’s delicate balance between her vibrant show-woman persona and the caring, maternal instincts she displays in quiet moments with the character of Celie.
- Production Deals: She signed a first-look deal with Fox Entertainment Studios through her production company, TPH Entertainment , indicating her ambition to develop new scripted and unscripted projects.
- The Accomplice (Upcoming TV Series): Henson will play Nia Adams , a brave Texas Ranger, and will also executive produce the series alongside 50 Cent—a clear sign that she’s carving her own path as a leading lady and an industry powerhouse.
Taraji P. Henson’s life story is one of unwavering resilience . From the trials of being a single mother in a discriminatory industry to becoming an acclaimed artist and an important voice for social change, she embodies the spirit of an unstoppable queen.