Taraji P. Henson On How She Stays Grounded While At The Peak of Her Career

We have witnessed Taraji P. Henson’s career catapult to its peak of stardom over the past year. She is truly an extraordinary actress, with such a vibrant personality–which is why everyone can’t help but to love her.

Many believe her role as Cookie Lyon on Empire has much to do with her new level of success. “It’s weird because I’ve been doing this for so long,” Henson, 45, told Extra. “It took a character like Cookie to expose me to the world in a way that I’ve never been exposed before.”

Henson is used to living a life as “normal” as possible, regardless of her career. She enjoys going out on the town, dining at different restaurants, shopping alone, and especially going to Target. “I love to shop at Target and I love to do my own grocery shopping, but that’s become difficult with the paparazzi,” Henson said adding, “It’s like, ‘Where were y’all, like, 10 years ago?”

She understands the importance of being grounded, and remembers that she is a mother, daughter, friend, and human being first.  However, her sense of normalcy is quickly becoming a struggle, constantly being surrounded by paparazzi and being recognized everywhere she goes. Something she never had to worry about before.

“You have got to take the good with the bad. The good side is I can get into any restaurant,” Henson joked.