Taraji P Henson - Empire

Taraji is an American actress and singer who is currently 45 years of age and has accomplished many things in her life. Henson studied acting at Howard University and began her acting career in 2001 on a television show 'Baby Boy'. In 2008 she played 'Queenie' in David Fincher’s 'The Curious Case of Benjamin Button' for which she received a nomination for the Academy Award for Best supporting Actress.

She has had an extensive career in television, having been a regular cast member on series such as The Division, Boston Legal and Eli Stone.

As of 2015, she stars as Cookie Lyon on the FOX drama series Empire, for which she won the “Critics’ Choice Television Award for Best Actress” in a Drama Series and is nominated for Primetime Emmy Award for “Outstanding Lead Actress” in a Drama series.

In the show Empire, Henson is one of the main characters (Cookie Lyon) within the series. In her first appearance on the show she is released from prison and strikes out to lay claim to half of Luscious’ multi-million dollar record label, which was initially funded by her drug money. She is portrayed as a “total badass”. Being a total badass she is strong woman who puts her family first. Henson describes Cookie as a “raw nerve from the hood”.

Henson’s Character, Cookie has a bold fashion statement, which accompanies her character.  In her first appearance of the show, she is released from prison in what she was locked up in. Her outfit is a bit outdated. However as the show goes on her wardrobe grows. Her wardrobe is filled with fur, animal prints, god and sparkles, which portray her as “fierce, caring and extremely powerful”.