Taraji P. Henson has lengthy been an equal pay advocate, notably talking out about uplifting fellow Black actresses. In a latest interview, she additional highlighted “the difference between women and men in Hollywood.”
During a latest dialog on Making Space with Hoda Kotb, the Oscar nominee was requested about her efforts to name consideration to movie profession disparities, which prompted her to recall a selected occasion following the 2001 launch of late director John Singleton‘s younger grownup hood drama movie Baby Boy.
“It was huge for me back then. I was a female lead, I was new to Hollywood, and I just remember everybody coming to me going, ‘Oh my God, you’re gonna blow up. Do you understand what John Singleton does to people’s careers? Look at this person and this person.’ But I don’t know, discernment told me something different. And I just knew it wasn’t gonna be that way,” she started.
The Empire alumna continued, “I hadn’t even really fully figured out the politics of Hollywood yet. But I just know that something sat on my heart, and was like, ‘I don’t know if that’s gonna be my story, I don’t know that that’s gonna happen like that overnight for me.’ And so, sure enough — but I knew deep down it would for Tyrese.”
Henson clarified that she doesn’t harbor any in poor health will, however was slightly noting the distinction in subsequent profession trajectory. “And it’s no hate or anything — I just knew … But it still didn’t hit me yet, because I was still working. As long as I had a job, I was cool.”
The four-time Emmy-nominated actress singled out franchise tasks specifically: “After Baby Boy, Tyrese booked two franchise films, huge! Transformers and Fast and Furious. I still have not booked my franchise film. Been in the game almost 30 years. No franchise film.”
She concluded, “I’m not gonna cry about it. I mean, it just, I know what it is now. Now I’m on the other side of the table now. You can’t hurt my feelings anymore because now I know there’s politics involved. It still sucks, but I’m not setting myself up to hurt my own feelings.”
