After a successful 2008-2009, where “The Curious Case of Benjamin Button” earned Taraji P. Henson additional accolades from the likes of the BET Awards, NAACP Image Awards, Critics Choice Awards, and SAG Awards, the actor’s star status shot into the stratosphere. In the years since, Henson has starred in the hit series “Person of Interest” and “Empire.” As for movies, she headlined the best picture Oscar nominee “Hidden Figures” and the movie musical version of “The Color Purple.”
Speaking with Gayle King in support of “The Color Purple,” Henson explained how the numbers are deceiving when hearing about how much actors get paid. “When you hear someone go, ‘Such and such made $10 million,’ that didn’t make it to their account,” she said. “Off the top, Uncle Sam is getting 50%. Now have $5 million. Your team is getting 30% of what you gross, not after what Uncle Sam took. Now, do the math.”
Elaborating, Henson said the process of trying to reach for the top only to find herself starting anew at the bottom has left her exhausted. “I’m only human. Every time I do something and break another glass ceiling, when it’s time to renegotiate, I’m at the bottom again, like I never did what I just did, and I’m tired. I’m tired. It wears on you. What does that mean? What is that telling me? If I can’t fight for them coming up behind me then what the f*** am I doing?”
