Taraji P. Henson (Photo: 37 INK/Atria Books)
Please note: The ticket price includes a copy of Around the Way Girl (37 Ink/Atria), pre-signed by Henson.
At the center of Fox’s wildly popular hip-hop drama, Empire, is the captivating Cookie Lyon, a force of nature in over-the-top couture. The force behind Cookie is D.C. native Taraji P. Henson, an Academy Award nominee and Golden Globe winner.
In her new book, Around the Way Girl, Henson discusses her journey from Washington to Hollywood. She shares stories about her family, including her father, a sometimes-embattled Vietnam vet, and her mother, who survived violence both in the home and on D.C.'s tough streets. She opens up about her experiences as a single mother, a journey some saw as a burden but which she saw as a gift. The Howard University drama major also comments on how a degree from a respected university didn’t help her avoid the pitfalls that come with being a black actress.
In addition to her breakout role on Empire, Henson earned an Academy Award nomination for Best Supporting Actress in The Curious Case of Benjamin Button. She is also a 2011 Emmy nominee for Best Actress in a Movie or Miniseries for Lifetime’s Taken From Me.
Spend an afternoon with Henson as she talks with NPR’s TV critic Eric Deggans about making a life and building career—and what really happens behind the scenes on Empire.
Additional copies of Around the Way Girl are available for purchase at the event.
