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Actress and singer Taraji P. Henson and 50 interesting things from her life.
1. Henson starred in Hustle and Flow, and earned an Academy Award nomination for her role in The Curious Case of Benjamin Button.
2. When Henson was 2 years old, her parents divorced.
3. As a teenager, Taraji Henson applied to a performing-arts high school but didn't get in.
4. Mary J. Blige is a fan of her cooking.
5. She is very much into fashion.
6. Her nickname in college was Cookie.
7. She has pointed to her father as a main source of moral support during her upbringing.
8. Was the class clown of Ballou High.
9. In 2008 she earned an Oscar nomination for her part in The Curious Case of Benjamin Button.
10. Her favorite song from Empire is "You're So Beautiful."
11. Once she won a lasagna cook-off.
12. Henson spent her first year in college studying electrical engineering at North Carolina Agricultural & Technical State University.
13. To pay for college, Henson worked as a singing waitress on a boat in Washington, D.C.
14. After failing pre-calculus, she transferred to Howard University, where she studied theater.
15. During university Henson was working two jobs.
16. She is a great cook.
17. At Howard, she honed her singing, dancing and acting skills, proudly earning herself a "Triple Threat Scholarship."
18. Owns too many shoes.
19. She doesn't like to eat peas.
20. When Henson was in her junior year of college, she became pregnant.
21. Loves noodle soup.
22. In past she worked as a cruise-ship entertainer.
23. She used to work as a Secretary at the Pentagon.
24. Won the Triple Threat Award.
25. During her second trimester, she sang and danced in "Dreamgirls."
26. She gave birth to her son, Marcell, and kept up her classroom attendance and performances-with her baby in tow.
27. She had just $700 in her bank account when in 1996, Henson and her son moved to Los Angeles so she could pursue a professional acting career.
28. Working an office job to make ends meet, Henson received her first professional acting gig on the television show Smart Guy.
29. Henson sang "It's Hard Out Here for a Pimp." The track won a 2004 Academy Award for Best Song.
30. Taraji P. Henson is returning to Person of Interest as a guest star.
31. Was born as Taraji Penda Henson.
32. Has an estimated net worth of $6 million.
33. First and middle name come from Swahili origin.
34. She usually spends her summer at her grandparents' home in Maryland.
35. Her nicknames are Tar, TJ.
36. Her distinctive features are beautiful smile and attractive eyes.
37. Brand Endorsements: Cover Girl Costumes.
38. Known for her active social work with PETA.
39. Taraji means hope and penda means love.
40. Says that she trains hard during workouts to keep her body good looking.
41. Is a relative of Arctic Explorer Mathew Henson who claimed to be the first person to reach the North Pole.
42. She instantly transforms into Cookie once makeup and wardrobe goes on.
43. Henson's breakthrough role was in the 2001 comedy drama film Baby Boy which she portrayed Yvette.
44. Loves fresh glowing skin and great lashes.
45. Every year she makes the trek back to the city to visit family and friends.
46. She likes to eat Chicken and mumbo sauce.
47. When in D.C she likes to sneak in any Chinese food place.
48. Henson has made several appearances in music videos. She starred in the rapper Common's music video "Testify."
49. March 16, 2015, she was a guest co-host on Live! with Kelly and Michael filling in for regular co-host Kelly Ripa.
50. Henson in January 2011 appeared nude in an ad for the I'd Rather Be Naked Than Wear Fur campaign.
