Taraji P. Henson has been a major topic of discussion over the past few weeks. The famed Empire actress is turning heads because of her stellar performance in the highly lauded film, Hidden Figures. During a recent discussion on The Talk, Taraji opened up about the film and her pivotal role. But, she also made a shocking confession about her portrayal of the African-American mathematician Katherine Johnson.
The Disheartening Truth:
Taraji revealed she was hurt after reading the script for the role. She explained how the script shed light on the disadvantages women faced as a result of existing in a male-dominant world.
“I was hurt because growing up as a young girl there was an understanding that math and science were for boys, so I immediately, I felt like a dream had been stolen from me,” she said. “After I got the script, I was like, ‘Wow, that’s horrible.’ Because what if I was allowed to dream to be a rocket scientist. Who knows where my life would be.”
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YH12qaoiGJ0
Taraji’s Mission:
Not only does the film has an exceptionally powerful statement, but Taraji also made it her personal mission to ensure her role inspires young girls and offers a different outlook on life, their futures, and the importance of “a beautiful mind.”
“I made it my mission to be a part of this film because I didn’t want another girl to ever believe that her brain cannot understand numbers and rocket science,” she said. “If a boy can do it, you can do it too. A brilliant mind does not have a color or a gender.”
