Taraji P. Henson: Fighting her way to the top

‘Everybody has a Petey Greene’ story
Even though she grew up in D.C. and went to Howard where Greene’s show once aired on the campus radio station, Henson is too young to remember the reign of Petey Greene. But when she got the part she reached out to some of the older members of her family.

“I mentioned his name and everybody lit up! ‘Petey Greene, that’s my man! He told it like it was’! Everybody had a Petey Greene story,” she said. “That’s really when I knew I had to do it. He just sounded like he was something else! And what I loved about Vernell is that she realized she loved him no matter what. She was there through the lowest points of his life and was there to build him up. She was a great character to play.”

And Lemmons was happy to give her the opportunity to do so.

“We always had a sense about Taraji maybe being the right person because I knew her work,” Lemmons said. “But she came in and read and she’s just like a fire house. She’s so amazing. I think of her like a volcano. She’s erupting with talent. But you know she’s really different in all the movies that she’s in. I think she’s one of the great actresses working and she should be working more.

“And now that I have worked with her, I look at everything I can to see if Taraji can play this role.”

MORE FROM MOVIE INTERVIEWS

Comedian Mo’Nique gets serious in ‘Precious’

Comedian Mo’Nique gets serious in ‘Precious’   Richard Gere on ‘Amelia’ role Newsweek: A chat with the 'Wild Things' creators Carey Mulligan gets ‘An Education’ on the ’60s Barrymore wheels into directing with ‘Whip It’   Add Movie interviews headlines to your news reader: