VIDEO : Taraji P. Henson Covers W, Recalls Almost Passing on Empire Role

Taraji P. Henson was initially hesitant about taking on the role, "I was like, 'this is stupid. Hip-hop?dumb, dumb, dumb, dumb.' But then I started to think, Cookie is going to piss so many people off! She hits her son with a broom; she talks back."
This Cookie character was right up Henson's alley. The 44-year-old has always been bold and theatrical, "I remember the first time I was in front of an audience and that was kindergarten. I remember like it was yesterday...I remember going to the mic and doing something really quirky and I was like: 'I like this.' I like this attention."