Host Biography

Oscar®– and Emmy®-nominated and Golden Globe®-winning actor, writer and producer Taraji P. Henson has delighted audiences for years through a variety of roles that showcase her artistic range. From the hit musical drama "Empire," for which she won a Golden Globe and was nominated for multiple Emmy Awards, to iconic film roles including the Academy Award®-nominated film "Hidden Figures" and her breakout performance in the critically acclaimed "Hustle & Flow."

In addition to many iconic characters and performances, she is the New York Times bestselling author of "Around the Way Girl," a memoir about her family and friends, her determination to make it to Hollywood and the importance of living your own truth. She launched the Boris Lawrence Henson Foundation in honor of her late father to provide scholarships to African American students majoring in mental health, offer mental health services to youth in urban schools, and work to lower the recidivism rates of African American men and women.

Henson will shine a spotlight on mental wellness in a new talk show for Facebook Watch. She is currently developing an "Empire" spinoff with her production company, TPH Entertainment, as part of her first-look deal with 20th Television. Her new Apple podcast series, "Jacked," focused on the story behind the new jack swing music era, will premiere on Nov. 17.