Taraji P. Henson

Actress Taraji P. Henson began to catch the attention of film audiences with supporting roles in John Singleton's "Baby Boy" (2001) and "Four Brothers" (2005), but her breakout performance opposite Terrence Howard in the acclaimed urban drama "Hustle & Flow" (2005) really set the critical buzz in motion. A virtual unknown when she was flooded with award nominations for her performance and her singing on the film's soundtrack single "It's Hard Out Here for a Pimp," Henson's image as a feisty, independent woman led to steady series television work and another round of accolades for the acclaimed period biopic "Talk to Me" (2007). When Henson found herself sharing the screen with Brad Pitt in "The Curious Case of Benjamin Button" (2008) the following year, it was clear that her long-held dream of being a respected A-list actress was quickly becoming reality.