Q
&
A
COOKIELYON
, themuch-loved
Empire
character,
isknown forbeingtoughand fair-minded inequal
parts, traits thataren’tamillionmiles from the
womanwhoportraysher.
AmericanWay
caught
upwithTarajiP.Henson to talkrolemodels, good
adviceandworking towardabetterworld.
Somanypeople lookup
toyour
Empire
character
andherfiercedisposition.
Whodoyou lookup to?
I always lookup tomy
parents andmy family.
Family is first, and I’m a
mother first. I lookup to
thosewho are strong and
truthful. I admire those
who try tomake adiffer-
ence and set things right.
I thinkpeople lookup to
Cookiebecause she says
exactlyhow she feels.No
filter.We all wishwe could
domoreof that.
What’s thebest advice
you’veever received?
Get away from thosewho
have your sameproblems
and instead surround
yourself with thosewho
have solutions.Mydad
said that.
Youwerebornand raised
inWashington,D.C., and
youworkedasa secretary
at thePentagon tohelp
pay for college.Didyou
everhaveanypolitical
aspirations?
I’m an artist, andwe
change theworldby shin-
ing light through stories. I
don’t want to run for office,
but I dowant everyone to
pay attention to thosewho
are and to listen towhat
they say.
If youweren’t anactress,
whatdoyou thinkyou’d
bedoing?
I was ahairdresser and
manicurist tomy friends
growingup, so I guess I
wouldhave a fabulous
salon and lots of famous
clients.
Last year, a lotof atten-
tionwasgiven toViola
Davisbecoming thefirst
blackactress towin the
Emmy forOutstanding
LeadActress inaDrama
Series (for
How toGet
AwaywithMurder
).What
benchmarkswouldyou
like to see in the future?
I want aworldwithno racial
benchmarks. Just human
beings all doing their best.
You’vebeenactivewith
PETA.Whatother causes
areparticularly important
toyou?
Education, and I have a
message about that: I want
everyone togo to college
or get agoodequivalent
foundation in the trade
of their choice. Knowing
how todowhat you love
is the key tohappiness
and success. Please stay in
school! –
JENNIFER
BIRN
Buildingan
Empire
TheboldandbeautifulTarajiP.Henson
continues togiveusreasons towatch—
and learn
38
FEBRUARY2016
AMERICANWAY
PHOTO
ERIKUMPHREY
