In the movie she’s called a ‘bottom bitch,’ but the bottom is the foundation. She’s the element that’s holding it all together. She was the quiet in the storm. What kind of advice would you give young black actresses who want to get in the game? There is no formula. You really have to be committed and realize there’s no guidebook. Have a strong foundation and start with self. Deal with why you are doing what you’re doing and understand it! Have you seen Hustle & Flow? CLICK HERE to tell us what you think about the movie and Taraji P. Henson’s character.
August 02, 2005 @ 10:56 am
Hustle & Flow's Taraji P. Henson
VIBE.COM: In Baby Boy you played a baby mama and in Hustle & Flow you play a pregnant prostitute. Do you worry about typecasting?
Taraji P. Henson: I get this all of the time. Everyone needs a voice. How are we going to change society if we don’t put these images in people’s faces? If there’s a problem with what’s being seen, then I have done my job. I have ruffled your feathers. Do something about that girl that I’m representing. Period, point blank!
We have to get out there and touch those girls who feel like they don’t have a reason to exist and let them know life is choice driven and you are in control!
Why do you think it’s so hard for black actresses to get recognition for their roles?
It’s a man made world, you know what I mean? It’s a struggle for women period. White actresses will tell you the same thing. The support for women is missing. The sad thing about it is the audiences are hungry for our voices. We just don’t get that love and support and it’s sad.
What’s so special about Hustle & Flow?
You have a movie with a pimp and hoes, yet there’s no nudity and no sex scenes. At the end of the day, the movie has nothing to do with pimping or even rap music. It’s a movie about an underdog with a dream and this is why the movie’s so special! It’s about humans doing what they do to get by in life. None of the characters are really young. It speaks on so many levels because it shows it is never too late to live out your dreams.
You contribute vocals to the songs “Hustle & Flow” and “Hard for a Pimp.” Is singing something you aspire to do?
No. I’m not going to try and get a record deal after the movie is released. If I get another role where singing is required, I would welcome it but acting is my passion.
What character have you enjoyed playing the most?
I love every character I’ve played, but Suge (in Hustle) was extremely special for me as an actress and in life. Although we have nothing in common, I have hopes and dreams.
Article tags: Taraji P. Henson, Hustle & Flow, John Singleton, Baby Boy
del.icio.us
digg
Furl
Reddit
YahooMyWeb
Page printed from:
http://www.vibe.com/news/online_exclusives/2005/08/taraji_p_henson_hustle_flow/
Comments
1.
Tony Clark says:
this is tony clark again , i mispelled brain name, is brian and i mispelled name , brian is an supervisor there at dunkin doughnuts also. you probably talk to an hand full of folks from dunkin doughnuts about me right. anyway supervisors are not be involved with employees outside relationships or problems, what an supervisor main cocern is job related issues and not non related work issues outside of the job. an emplyee who brings issues to work should be esnt home to take care of those issues he has at home and not bring it to work. so therefor an supervisors business should job related and should be in the employee business of his job at work and shouldn't interested in an EMPLOYEE BUSINESS OUTSIDE OF THE JOB, WHICH IS INVASION OF PRIVACY AND ANYONE WHO WORKS WITH THE EMPLOYEE ALSO, WHO IS THE EMPLOYEE BUNIESS THAT SHOULDN'T HAVE THEIR NOSE UP IN THE PERSON BUSINESS , I BELIEVE THAT CONSTITUTES , INVASION OF PRIVACY ALSO. where i said dream comes true , i mean't to put dreams to come true , feel me. i just wanted to type fast and get off the internet. invasion of privacy laws are ineffect. this goes for you know who also , she shouldn't be all up in my privacy that i didn't give her any permission to be all in my privacy .I WANT HER TO LEAVE MY PRIVACY ALONE PERIOD AND ALONG WITH HER FRIENDS, THEY KNOW WHO THEY ARE.
December 24, 2006 at 12:22 am
2.
Tony Clark says:
Why do you call meand don't leave an message on my answering machine, for me to call you back. i would really appreciate it only if you can please leave an message for me, because i would like to hear your very lovely voice. i would like to talk to you on the phone and in person, if we could do so. i would like to to sit down , to catch up on from the point that you got on the bus , the 92 or the 94 , the day you left washing ton dc, until the day you arrived in la, as well as i will tell you what i have been doing with myself and what i have been through.IF YOU HAVE BEEN TALKING TO SOMEONE M=NAME ALEX AN SUPERVISOR AT DUNKIN DOUGHNUTS, HERES IS THE TRUTH, I JUST MET ALEX, KNOWN HIM ABOUT 4 TO MAYBE 6 MONTHS. HE DOESN'T KNOW ME FROM AN CAN OF BEANS. TO TELL YOU THE TRUTH THAT ALEX DOESN'T HAVE YOUR BEST INTEREST AT HEART . ALEX has an very personal VANDETTA towards me, all ther time, i know he has an personal problem with me, since i started working there at dunkin doughnuts, i know he is telling you that he can care less about me , which is lie , all he wants to do is to carry out this personal vendetta he has against me, so that he can continue to talk b\s about me .i know he is probably asking you questions about me , trying to get information about me, which is none of his business, , if he is i will press charges against him for invasion of privacy, what he need to do is worry about himself and not me.he is probably jealous of me , because i have an alot of friends , and some celebrities, such as you. another problem he may have with me is that i don't kiss up to him , laugh and smile in his face , and that i also don't socialize with him like that on an regular basis, i only speak to him , just to say what's up ; how are you and keep it moving, also on an supervisor work related ?. alex is probably cock blocking me from talking to you and also seening you , because he is one of them who is helping you know who , to make you who know who dream come true of what she wants and that she wants me to be alone in this world, to be with out friends, family, and even my son, and not have an female friends in my life to be part of my life , so that i can come back to her , feel the pinch of beening lonely, so he figures that he and whoever he got helping him from my job to help him do for you know who, to make you know who dreams come true, feel me, he knows who they are [alex], you probably talked to them , to listen to the b\s they are talking about me, they are , also helping you know who, also the folks he got helping him , is lying on me also, these same folks , don't want me to be happy , but they are doing it for there gain and for you know who , you got it, if you figured it who i'am talking about.he wil continue to lie to you on an consistant basis, to cover up an lie to top the lie he already told you and for him to get folks to cover for him to lie for him , feel , me. he is an compulsive lair , taraji. all he wants from you is sex, money, for you to pay off his car and bills he may have, he doesn't have your best interest at heart anyway.another thing i probably know already is that he has folks talking to you to put in an good word for him , to tell you about , him , how wonderful he is andall that and at the sametime talking b\s about me to you , these folks don't know me tarraji , they just jealous of me and hating on me . by them putting an good word for their boy , at the same time they are bad mouthing me , so that their boy alex, can get with you and for you to leave me alone, so that they can help out you know who dream come true of me beening alone in this world. i already know who it is helping her , one tof them nme is brain , an supervisor at dunkin doughnuts and some others who work at dunkin doughnuts who is helping you know who dream come true, so please don't feed in that b\s, baby i'am not doing noting to these folks , i'am minding my business, i only speak to these folks when spoken to , other then that i try to stay to myself , pray , meditate, i have thoughts and i keep them to myself. i also things i think about that i have on my mind and i will talk to you about it. i also think about my job and home, especially the lord , because i taalk to him everyday , feel me. i also ask for rides home. i also speak up for myself, i'am not going to let none run over on me and talk to me any kind of way and i'am sure you do the same thing also. therefore i try to keep to myself and these folks don't respect that. i don't like to date females that i work with on the job and i'am going to keep it that way forever . please call me and leave an message for me baby tony clark 609-835-0430 or my cell phone 609548-4474 also email me at sonand tone@verizon.net i love you and all you pictures , i think you are very talented and very gifted actress and i know one day you will win an oscar. call me.
December 24, 2006 at 12:03 am