Last night’s Golden Globes had an array of miscues, offensive jokes and utter sloppiness, but one of the two bright spots was actress Taraji P. Henson winning the Golden Globe for best actress in a drama series. The other was Denzel Washington receiving the Cecil B. DeMille Award.
Henson has been acting in Hollywood for nearly two decades but has not been recognized for her work as an actor. Granted, she was nominated for an Oscar in the 2008 film The Curious Case of Benjamin Button, but that was for a supporting role. This Golden Globes win recognizes her outstanding work as a lead actress.
As Cookie Lyon on Fox’s Empire, Henson gives a tour du force performance as a woman who has been in jail for a nearly two decades. After her release, she reunites with her former lover, Lucious, who just happens to be a rap music mogul. The two have a tug-of-war for power because she knows the truth about how the empire was built. Cookie is a street-smart business woman, a leader and an open-minded mother who knows how to make hit records. Henson’s performance is what makes the show watchable and elevates it past a Tyler Perry-like melodrama.
Henson joins an exclusive club. There have been only been three Black women to win a Golden Globe in the Best Actress in a Television Series – Drama category. She joins Gail Fisher for Mannix and Regina Taylor for I’ll Fly Away.
Her win highlights the uphill climb for Black actors and actresses and Hollywood’s snail-paced progress in terms of diversity and casting.
Many Black entertainers praised Henson on Twitter for getting overdue recognition she deserved.
Congratulations @TherealTaraji on your #goldenglobes win… you've been in the grind for a while – you deserve all the #love from your peers
— Sherri Shepherd (@sherrieshepherd) January 11, 2016
Congratulations to my friend @therealtaraji on her #GoldenGlobe2016 award!!! You absolutely… https://t.co/HF4z72OxhH
— Mary J. Blige (@maryjblige) January 11, 2016
https://twitter.com/KELLYROWLAND/status/686398292264116224
Yaaayyy!!! Congratulations @therealtaraji #goldenglobes #winning https://t.co/xIi66sZ8Na
— Terri Vaughn (@terrijvaughn) January 11, 2016
Yes @therealtaraji yes! Her FIRST golden globe for her work on @empire ! She says cookies for… https://t.co/o0H2uOww9M
— Gayle King (@GayleKing) January 11, 2016
https://twitter.com/MichaelaAngelaD/status/686391222844428289
Truth!!!!! So proud of @tarajiphenson on her win tonight!!!!! So deserving. Proud moment for all of us ❤️❤️🏆YESSSS!! pic.twitter.com/gBLv4jV5GH
— LA LA (@lala) January 11, 2016
Congrats to my tv sister @therealtaraji for her #goldenglobe #win ❤️❤️❤️ https://t.co/AC8MtoY24U
— Tasha (@tashasmith4real) January 11, 2016
YAAAASSS @TherealTaraji! "You gon wait!!" Mama you are a star! 🌟
— Fantasia Taylor (@TasiasWord) January 11, 2016
