STYLE EVOLUTION

Empire Actress Taraji P. Henson Always Makes a Statement on the Red Carpet


Actress Taraji P. Henson, who best known for playing Cookie Lyon on Empire and Katherine G. Johnson in the Oscar-nominated film Hidden Figures, has made a name for herself both on the silver screen and the red carpet over the past two decades. In celebration of her glamorous turn on the red carpet at the Academy Awards, revisit Henson’s most memorable looks here.

1
WireImage

The actress first appeared on the scene with a supporting role in 2001 film Baby Boy, wearing a sequined top, lace-up suede skirt and oversized flower hair accessory.

2
FilmMagic

At the Matrix Reloaded premiere, Henson stuck to the theme of the film and rocked a black vinyl trench coat, fishnet tights and black patent pumps.

3
Getty Images

Henson wore a fitted lace and silk midi dress and gold peep-toe kitten heels with a pile of high pin curls, a style typically reserved for preserving a hairstyle overnight, at MMPA’s 13th Annual Diversity Awards.

4
WireImage

The actress looked like an alluring mermaid in an Aquamarine gown with a jeweled neckline at the 2006 Oscars.

5
Getty Images

Henson wore a floral, teal midi dress and short pin-up girl-inspired bangs at a film premiere in Los Angeles.

6
WireImage

Henson looked elegant wearing a navy J.Mendel corseted chiffon gown with a plunging neckline to the premiere of her film ‘The Curious Case of Benjamin Button’.

7
Getty Images

In a simple black gown, the actress looked refined at the 2009 BET Awards.

8
FilmMagic

Henson looked sweet and sophisticated in a lace and jersey shift dress and peep-toe pumps at the 2010 Vh1 Hip Hop Honor Awards.

9
WireImage

At the 63rd primetime Emmy Awards, Henson nailed it in the hair and makeup department thanks to a low, messy side bun and radiant bronze makeup that coordinated with her metallic floor-length dress.

10
WireImage

A sequined, ombre-colored halter dress by Brian Rennie for Basler original proved to be a flattering, elegant choice for the 54th Annual Grammy Awards.

11
FilmMagic

At the 2013 Tribeca Film Festival, Henson looked stunning and vibrant in a cobalt-blue Stella & Jamie ‘Fabiola’ dress that showed off her curves.

12
FilmMagic

Henson arrived to the ‘Think Like A Man Too’ premiere in a red maxi dress wth hand-beaded Swarovski crystal embellishments.

13
WireImage

Henson attended the 2015 Met gala as the date of Alexander Wang, wearing a black and white strapless column dress by the fashion designer for Balenciaga.

14
FilmMagic

The Empire star wore another Alexander Wang gown while attending the 67th annual Emmy Awards, where she nabbed her second Emmy nomination for the breakout FOX drama.

15
NBCU Photo Bank via Getty Images via Getty Images

Henson channeled her Empire character Cookie Lyons at the 2016 Golden Globes, where she received the award for best actress in a TV drama, in a simultaneously fierce and ethereal white strapless Stella McCartney gown.

16

Actress Taraji P. Henson wore custom Alberta Ferretti at the 89th Annual Academy Awards at Hollywood & Highland Center on February 26, 2017 in Hollywood, California.