BV Entertainment Newswire March 1: Taraji P. Henson Prepares For Her Oscar Close Up

One Singular Sensation

Taraji P. Henson will make a historical debut at the 78th Annual Academy Awards on March 5. The “Best Song” nominated track ‘It’s Hard out Here for a Pimp’ –from 'Hustle & Flow' —holds the distinction of being the first rap song featured on the awards show. As pregnant prostitute Shug in the John Singleton -produced film, the Washington, DC born single mother left an indelible impression on theatergoers and critics alike, and has become a darling of Black Hollywood. Henson was named Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Feature Film at the inaugural Black Movie Awards.

A “direct descendant of Mathew Henson” –co-discoverer of the North Pole, the Howard University graduate first gained Hollywood recognition in Singleton’s 'Baby Boy.' Next up is a role in the forthcoming ‘Smoking Aces,’ which will star her rumored current love interest Common, and pop music’s Alicia Keys.

What does Oscar recognition mean to you?

“It means a lot because I feel like it is my nomination. I feel like they didn’t know my name so the scene was so moving and that’s why the song got nominated. I’m not taking anything away from the writers, Three Six Mafia, because I’m excited to see hip-hop on the map –because I’m a child of hip-hop—and to see it bleed into the Oscars is amazing, and to be a part of it is tremendous. I can’t even explain it. It’s the Oscars, it’s every actor’s dream to be nominated, but the fact that I’ll be on the stage performing, and how many actresses can say that? How many actors can say that?”

What do you have in store for the big night?

“I’m just going to be me and let my soul speak like I do in all of my characters.”

Considering the history of winning films and nominated roles, do you think the Academy favors performances and themes about Black criminology and pathology?

“I just think that sometimes when it gets to African Americans being nominated for Oscars, a lot of times, it’s not for the actual [performance], but it’s for the whole body of work, as opposed to a white person who just does a powerful performance that year and the studio gets behind them and pushes them. It’s so political; it’s like running for governor. God bless Terrence [Howard] he’s been out there. He’s another one that is getting an Oscar because of his body, I believe, of work. Yes, he did an amazing job in ‘Hustle & Flow’ but he’s just an amazing actor and it’s about time that he’s recognized on this level. Mine is coming. I get closer and closer.”

“Last year, Paramount sent myself, Terrence and Taryn Manning to the Oscars. This year, I’m singing. Next time, I’m going to be on the stage collecting my trophy.”

Do you think that it’s a valid question since there is so much more that we bring to the table?

“Yeah, we bring a lot of stuff to the table, but think about what the white people are winning stuff for. Look at ‘Syriana,’ they were blowing up people and killing people with guns. In ‘Monster,’ [Charlize Theron] was a monster, she killed people. It’s like both sides. It’s just the fact that there are more white films. It’s more of them so there are more movies for them.”

So at any point when you were recording the lyrics for ‘It’s Hard Out Here For A Pimp,’ did you have to stop yourself from saying ‘well, it’s even harder for a prostitute?”

“(Chuckles) You know what, I did say that. I said ‘Yeah, it’s hard out here for a pimp but it’s even harder for a hoe, but that was behind the scenes. But you know what, pimping ain’t easy. And we all have pimp in us. Think about the word pimp. Everybody has to pimp somebody to do something for them. If I need you to do something, I have to figure out how to get you to do what I need you to do for me. That’s pimping. You know what I mean? You’re pimping me right now. You pimped my people to get to me to do this interview right now.”

I’m not going to go there.

“Listen to what I’m saying. Take the street term ‘bitch better have my money…’ off of it. It’s a state of mind. You’re just trying to get what you want from a person.”

I’m not going to co-sign on that one Taraji.

“… You don’t want to recognize the pimp in you. (Laughs)”

So you’re also singing on this new CD called ‘Unexpected Dreams,’ that’s coming out next month?

“Oh that was fun, that’s a lullabies CD to put babies to sleep, or it could be for lovers. It’s one of those ‘it can go either way CDs.’ Scarlett Johannson is on there and some others. It’s to keep music alive in public schools, which I don’t understand why the arts aren’t thriving in public schools like they should, to give the kids something to do.”

You are really blossoming. And we never knew you had a voice.

“Well they did at Howard. I did musical theater at Howard. Music is just something that’s in me, I just love music. Singing is not my first passion, it’s something that I enjoy doing but I enjoy acting more.”

Would you do a CD of your own?

“Well, now people are interested but it would have to be the right thing. I’m not interested in competing with Beyonce -- I’m not trying to do that whole thing. It would have to do something special.”

Speaking of music, a few black actresses are making cameo appearances in music videos. What do you make of this trend?

“Well, I’m not really a video girl. I’ve been offered a few videos and I’ve turned them all down except for ‘Testify’ because to me I’m an actress and if there’s nothing for me to do in the video, I’d rather not do it. ‘Testify’ was actually shot like a mini movie, like a short film. So that was my interest in that. Other than that, if it’s just shaking the tail, you can get a video girl for that. That’s not a part of my repertoire. Now I’m known as the girl in ’Testify,’ too. They talk to me about ‘Testify’ as if it’s a movie that I did.”

Well, what’s going on with you and Common?

“We’re good friends.”

Are you two an item or are you two “just friends”?

“We’re friends. Nowadays if you go out and support a person or you go with somebody somewhere, the first thing they want to do is put you guys together.”

So we won’t be hearing about a mysterious baby a few months from now, like we did with Sanaa (Lathan), will we?

“You haven’t read on the Internet that I’m supposed to be three months pregnant with his baby? Well that’s what they said. And it’s funny because that was the day that I was starting my menstrual cycle.”

You are off the chain!!! So you’re turning the big 3-5 this year. What’s your perspective on that?

“It’s a number. I don’t feel it. How are you supposed to feel? As far as I’m concerned, Oprah [Winfrey] made 50 the new 30. Age is a state of mind.”

So what do you want to do that you haven’t done just yet?

“Write a script and direct it and produce it. Probably, the story of the relationship between me and my dad. He just passed. I just lost my dad, but we had a very special relationship. I look at his passing as if it was bittersweet because he was in a lot of pain and he died with me right there in the room. I knew that day that he was going to go because that’s just how in tune we were. I just think that it’s amazing that my father witnessed me take my first breath in this world and I watched him take his last.”

Was he aware of you being apart of this year’s Oscar ceremony?

“Yes. My father always told me I was going to reach greatness. He was a prophet in my life. He told me, ‘Baby, you’re going to be a sensation.’ He spoke these things into me. He’s the reason why I’m out here doing what I’m doing. I was going to go to college and be an electrical engineer and he let me do it, and when I told him, ‘I hate this daddy, I don’t want to do this anymore,’ he said, ‘Now get to what you’re supposed to be doing then, I don’t know why you went down there to do that. You owe me $6,000.’ But he always told me when I was little that, ‘you are going to win an Oscar.’ I was a little disappointed that I didn’t get the nomination because I knew he was on his way out… but he knew I was going to be on the stage. My father knew my talents, he knew my gift, and he said ‘but wait until they hear your voice.’ And as soon as he said that, I get the script for ‘Hustle & Flow.’

When we look back at ‘Hustle & Flow’ 10 years from now, why would you say this film is important for us?

“Because it’s about family, and it’s about a man with a dream; people who are dealt a certain hand in life and as bleak and as dark as it may seem, they do whatever they can with whatever they have to try and rise above it and do better for themselves. You know what I mean? That’s what that story meant to me. He could’ve been a door salesman selling vacuum cleaners door to door who realized one day that he didn’t want to do that no more… he could’ve been living with his cousin and his aunt who were just on welfare.”

What can we expect from you in ‘Smoking Aces?

“Just fierceness. This girl is fierce and she is lethal. Her name is Sharice Watters and she has an itchy trigger finger – just put it that way. Alicia Keys and I both play assassins in the movie. She’s just so down to earth and so real. You want to be in awe, but I feel like we go way back.”

Which black actress do you admire the most?

“Queen Latifah. She’s kicking down doors. She’s making Hollywood stand up and take notice on her terms. She’s a true queen.”