Early Life and Background
Taraji P. Henson was born on September 11, 1970, in Washington, D.C. She grew up in a modest household and was raised by her mother after her parents divorced. As a younger student, she attended Suitland High School, where she developed an early interest in the arts and performance.
Education and Early Career Steps
Henson studied drama at Howard University, a historically Black university in Washington, D.C. After graduating, she moved to California to pursue acting and modeling. Her early work included small roles in television and film while she balanced side jobs to support herself.
First Breakthrough Roles
Her visibility increased with parts in projects such as Hustle & Flow and the television series Empire. These roles built on her earlier stage experience and helped establish her as a recognizable face in entertainment.
