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Taraji P. Henson as Cookie at Heart of TV’s ‘Empire’

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The cast of Fox's new show, 'Empire.' (Michael Lavine/FOX)

The cast of Fox’s new show, ‘Empire.’ (Michael Lavine/FOX)

Sandy Cohen, ASSOCIATED PRESS

 

LOS ANGELES (AP) — ‘Taraji P. Henson is driving down an LA street, chatting on her cellphone, when a billboard catches her eye.

“Hi, me! Hiiii!” she says, smiling at her latest on-screen incarnation: glamorous ex-con Cookie in “Empire,” which premieres on Fox at 9 p.m. EST Wednesday.

Draped in fabulous furs and drenched in attitude, Henson’s Cookie is the heart of the Fox drama, a fiercely devoted mother and astute businesswoman who’s fearless when it comes to getting what she wants. Her sometimes-reluctant partner is Lucious Lyon (Terrence Howard), a music mogul deciding which of their three sons should run the family’s entertainment empire.

Henson has seen her face on billboards before, with dozens of film credits (including 2008’s “The Curious Case of Benjamin Button,” for which she earned a supporting actress Oscar nod) and popular TV series such as “Person of Interest” to her name.

“Sometimes I forget, you know what I mean?” she says. “I just go on about my day, and look up and go, ‘That’s right, I do have a TV show coming out!”

The 44-year-old actress pulled over to talk with The Associated Press about the new show and the empire that is Taraji P. Henson.

___

AP: Who is Cookie?

Henson: She is a hero. I mean, she is the truth. She is strong. She’s family first. She’s a lot of things. She doesn’t compromise at all — never herself, and never her truth. That’s what I love about her… She says things that I might not have the guts to say. I love the way she dresses. I love how much she cares about her sons.

AP: How is it working with Terrence Howard again, your old pal from “Hustle & Flow”?

Henson: I just know that I really like working with Terrence. I trust him. And for me as an artist — acting, you really have to be uninhibited. You cannot have any hang-ups. Or if you do, they can’t breathe and live through these characters, because their hang-ups aren’t your hang-ups. So for me in order to fully explore characters without throwing Taraji in the mix, I have to feel safe… And with Terrence, I’m so safe with him, I can try anything… We’re friends. We’ve known each other, so it really works for Cookie and Lucious. When they came to me with the project, I said it has to be Terrence. When I cracked open the script, I saw no one but Terrence.

AP: What’s most challenging to you as an actress right now?

Henson: Challenging is getting what I think I deserve to be paid. (It’s) challenging to get the projects I want done or greenlit. I’m still having to prove I’m bankable. But I think it’s getting better! I’m not one to wallow in the muck and say how bad. I don’t harp on how bad things are… My thing is to prove each and every time I’m on the screen — whether it’s TV, whether it’s film, whether it’s the stage — Taraji is going to deliver. So when I do get that moment — ’cause it’s coming, I work too hard — when I do get that moment, that perfect movie comes along and some studio is going to say, ‘I believe in her.’ Not me and a man. Not me and another guy, no. Taraji P. Henson is going to open this film. Then I know that I’m doing my job.

___

Follow AP Entertainment Writer Sandy Cohen on Twitter: www.twitter.com/APSandy.

Online: http://www.fox.com/empire.
Copyright 2015 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

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Activism

Oakland Post: Week of October 30 – November 5, 2024

The printed Weekly Edition of the Oakland Post: Week of October 30 – November 5, 2024

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Love Life Organization Shows Love

As part of Love Life Week, the Love Life Foundation was honored to produce the 1974-75 World Champion Golden State Warrior Day. It’s a shame that our first Bay Area World Championship team’s unique accolades had been lost in the pre social media era and the cultural revolution of the 1970s.

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Members of the 1975 NBA championship team, Charles Dudley (left) and Clifford Ray (right) embrace Love Life Foundation leader Donald Lacy for his antiviolence mission. Courtesy photo.
Members of the 1975 NBA championship team, Charles Dudley (left) and Clifford Ray (right) embrace Love Life Foundation leader Donald Lacy for his antiviolence mission. Courtesy photo.

City of Oakland Celebrates 1975 NBA World Championship Team 

By Donald Lacy

Special to The Post

 As part of Love Life Week, the Love Life Foundation was honored to produce the 1974-75 World Champion Golden State Warrior Day.

It’s a shame that our first Bay Area World Championship team’s unique accolades had been lost in the pre social media era and the cultural revolution of the 1970s.

The 1975 NBA World Championship team were invited back to the City of Oakland last Friday, to be properly celebrated for their ground-breaking performance in 1975.

The heartwarming ceremony highlighted the recent passing of the legendary coach of that team, Al Attlles, and his former players Clifford Ray and Charles Dudley were on hand to represent the “Cardiac Kids” as they were called back then for their ability to make great comeback victories during their run for the title.

Warriors great Chris Mullin and former spiritual advisor Gary Reeves gave heartfelt testimonies of their experiences under Attles’ leadership and their relationship with the inspiration they received from the NBA 1975 World Champion Golden State Warriors.

The City of Oakland provided proclamations to all parties with speeches made by city leadership including Mayor Sheng Thao and Deputy Mayor Dr. Kimberly Mayfield and activity host Love Life non-profit founder and Executive Director Donald E. Lacy Jr..

There will be a celebration of life event Nov. 9 honoring Attles’ legacy at Alameda College.

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Oakland Post: Week of October 23 – 29, 2024

The printed Weekly Edition of the Oakland Post: Week of October 23 – 29, 2024

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