Taraji P. Henson says the best business decision she made was letting go of her management team after they failed to secure adequate follow-up projects to her hit series Empire.
The 53-year-old actress spoke about the professional transition earlier this month when she appeared at a SAG-AFTRA Foundation Conversations Career Retrospective event at the foundation's screening room in Los Angeles.
The Washington, DC resident in conversation with Variety Angelique Jackson said on December 5 that “everyone had to go” after experiencing a career lull following her six seasons as Cookie Lyon on the Fox musical drama from 2015-2020.
The Oscar-nominated actress picked up a Golden Globe and a pair of Emmy nominations for playing the role on the show opposite Terrence Howard.
The Color Purple star – who recently spoke out about being underpaid – said her team had “nothing prepared” following the success of Empire, adding: “That's why you guys haven't seen me in so long.”
Taraji P. Henson, 53, says the best business decision she made was letting go of her management team after they failed to land her adequate follow-up projects for her hit series Empire. Pictured in LA earlier this month
The Oscar-nominated actress spoke about the professional transition earlier this month when she appeared at a SAG-AFTRA Foundation Conversations Career Retrospective event at the foundation's screening room on December 5.
Since Empire ended in 2020 — when the coronavirus pandemic shut down entertainment for a significant period of time — Henson has worked on a handful of projects.
They include voice roles in 2023's PAW Patrol: The Mighty Movie and 2022's Minions: The Rise of Gru, as well as an appearance in the Offset & Cardi B video for Jealousy.
She has appeared in the TV movie Annie Live! and in an episode of Abbott Elementary earlier this year.
She said “firing everyone after Cookie” was the only move after her team couldn't think outside the Empire universe for her next project, Variety reported.
Henson said she asked her team, “Where's my deal? Where's my commercial? Cookie was at the top of the fashion game. Where is my approval? What did you arrange next?'
Henson said her entire team focused on “was another Cookie show,” as a potential spinoff about the character was ultimately rejected by Fox, according to the outlet.
“All they wanted was another Cookie show, and I said, 'I'll do it, but it has to be good – the people deserve it… she's too loved for all of you to mess it up,'” said she. . “And so, when they didn't get it right, I thought, 'Well, that's it,' and they had nothing else… 'You're all fired.'
Henson, who also appeared in The Curious Case of Benjamin Button and Hidden Figures, said it took her “years to get” to a point where she felt it was essential to break off long-standing business relationships.
Henson received critical acclaim for her six-season role as Cookie Lyon on the Fox musical drama from 2015-2020 opposite Terrence Howard. In the photo in 2018
Speaking to Variety's Angelique Jackson, the Washington, D.C. native said that “everybody had to go” after experiencing a lull in her career after Empire
Henson said her entire team focused on “was another Cookie show,” as a potential spinoff about the character was ultimately rejected by Fox.
Henson said a lack of endorsements, commercials and similar professional opportunities after the Empire run led her to cut ties with her team.
Henson said it took her “years to get” to a place where she felt it was essential to break long-standing business relationships.
“I stayed with the same team for years,” Henson said.
She said the most important lesson for actors is that sometimes it is essential to change management if they fail to fulfill their obligations.
“You are the prize; Never forget that,” Henson said. 'You are the talent. You are their check. Don't forget all that. They work for you. If they don't…someone else will.”
Henson is currently enjoying a career revival playing the role of Shug Avery in The Color Purple, now in theaters.