Taraji P. Henson: A peep into her 'World'

It's hard to tell what exactly put Taraji P. Henson on the map. Was it her critically acclaimed performance as a singing prostitute with a heart of gold in "Hustle & Flow"? Or was it her Oscar-nominated turn as Brad Pitt's mom in "The Curious Case of Benjamin Button"?

Whatever it was, the 40-year-old Washington, D.C., native and Howard University graduate has become a familiar face on TV and in movies, segueing easily from comedy to drama in "Talk to Me," "Boston Legal," "The Karate Kid" and "Date Night." Later this year, she co-stars with Tom Hanks and Julia Roberts in the comedy-drama "Larry Crowne," and she plays Rainn Wilson's wife in "Peep World," opening March 25. Lewis Beale spoke with the bubbly and unpretentious performer by phone from Los Angeles.

So, which was it that put you on the radar? "Hustle & Flow"? Or "Benjamin Button"?

If not for "Hustle & Flow," I wouldn't have gotten "Ben Button." After "Hustle & Flow," I still had to audition, but after the Oscars, that put me in a different category. I don't have to audition; they have me in mind. "Hustle & Flow" got me on the radar, and people knew my name. They learned how to pronounce it [Ta-ra-jay].

What kinds of roles are you being offered these days?

The creative people know I can do whatever, but then there are the ones who think you can only do one thing, like being Brad Pitt's nurturing mom in "Benjamin Button." But I can do many things. I took the part in "Peep World" because she's not a mother; it's a chance to show me away from what people try to put me in. I always hear, "You're always in black movies." It's about people's perceptions.

Your parents separated when you were young. You lived with your mom, and at one point, your dad was homeless, although he managed to recover from that. Did you learn anything from your father's experience?

SEE PHOTOSTaraji P. Henson

My dad, when he was homeless, said he would bounce back, and he did. So I learned life is always changing; you have control of your destiny. You can wallow in the mud or just say this is a test, and I can pass it with flying colors.

You certainly have taken control of your life, moving to L.A. as a single mom shortly after you graduated from college with a drama degree.

After I graduated from Howard, the decision was either L.A. or New York. I wanted to go to New York, but I couldn't, because I wanted to give my son the lifestyle I had -- backyard, place to play -- and I knew New York would be a struggle. Plus, theater doesn't pay if you're just starting.

Why did you decide to get into show business in the first place?

I was always a ham, a little entertainer. I loved that feeling of people responding to what I was doing, and my family was the best audience ever. So, it was always in me, and my dad noticed it and said I could have a career. I remember seeing Sister Sledge onstage when I was a kid, and I remember that sensation. I thought, "Look how many people they could affect," and I remember being drawn to that. Every time I was in a situation like that, I knew it was something I wanted to do.

Coming up, you're in "Larry Crowne," a film starring and directed by Tom Hanks. What was that experience like?

It's another comedy, and I play Tom Hanks' kooky next-door neighbor, I'm married to Cedric the Entertainer, and we won the lottery. My character has mastered the eBay system, and their garage sales are happening. Tom is amazing as a director; he's an actor's director. Being directed by someone you admire, it's like, "He's gonna tell me his secret." You get to act with actors you admire, but will you be directed by them?

Have you achieved all your goals in the business? Are there parts you still want to play?

I want to be a superhero, I want to do my own "Bridget Jones's Diary." A lot of the movies they won't let me do because of my color. It's going to change, because I'm going to have to make it change, show Hollywood I can make it work. Hollywood has this idea of black people, and it needs to be broken down. People are multidimensional and different. I wish Hollywood would step outside of the box a little bit.