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SOURCE: people.com/ Tyrese Gibson and Actress Taraji P. Henson perform in the film “Baby Boy.” Image @Courtesy Columbia Pictures/Getty
More than two decades after her breakout role in the 2001 film Baby Boy, Taraji P. Henson is reflecting on the stark differences between male and female actors she noticed early in her career, and how those realities shaped her path in Hollywood.
Henson, 55, is now an Academy Award–nominated actress known for past projects like Hidden Figures and the hit TV series Empire. But speaking to Hoda Kotb on an episode of her Making Space podcast, Henson recalled sensing that success wouldn’t come as quickly — or as easily — for her as it did for some of her male counterparts.
Speaking about her experience filming Baby Boy, directed by John Singleton, Henson shared that many around her predicted she was on her way to instant stardom, but she had a different intuition.
“That was huge for me. I was, you know, 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 said.
She continued: “Something sat on my heart, and it was like, 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 went on to acknowledge that her costar in the film, Tyrese Gibson‚ quickly transitioned into blockbuster territory, soon landing roles in major franchises like the Transformers and Fast & Furious films.
“And it’s no hate or anything — I just knew,” Henson explained, adding that the differences in the actors’ careers was emblematic of “the difference between women and men in Hollywood.”
She added: “But it still didn’t hit me yet, because I was still working. As long as I had a job, I was cool.”
Over time, however, Henson said that early realization grew into a clearer understanding of the industry’s inner workings — and the disparities that exist within it.
“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 said.
Still, Henson said she approaches her own career with perspective rather than bitterness.
“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,” she added.
Despite not landing a traditional franchise role, Henson’s career is not lacking in impact. She was nominated for Best Supporting Actress at the 2009 Academy Awards for her role in The Curious Case of Benjamin Button, and is well known for her Golden Globe–winning performance as Cookie Lyon on Empire.
