Taraji P. Henson

Taraji P. Henson, nominated for best actress in a supporting role for her work in "The Curious Case of Benjamin Button," arrives at the Academy Award luncheon in Beverly Hills, Calif., on Monday, Feb. 2, 2009. Henson was born Sept. 11, 1970, in Washington, D.C., the daughter of Bernice and Boris Henson. Her first and middle name are Swahili, with her first name meaning "hope" and her middle name meaning "love."

Actress Taraji P. Henson, left, and director David Fincher attend the Academy Award luncheon in Beverly Hills, Calif., on Monday, Feb. 2, 2009. Henson first attended college in North Carolina where she started a major in Electrical Engineering. She later transferred to Howard University in Washington.

Taraji P. Henson arrives at the Directors Guild of America Awards on Saturday, Jan. 31, 2009, in Los Angeles. She worked two jobs -- in the morning as a secretary at the Pentagon and in the evening as a singing and dancing waitress on a dinner cruise ship -- to pay for school. She graduated with a degree in Theater Arts.

Taraji P. Henson arrives at the Directors Guild of America Awards on Saturday, Jan. 31, 2009, in Los Angeles. On film Henson is perhaps best known for her roles as Yvette in "Baby Boy" (2001), Shug in "Hustle and Flow" (2005) and most recently Queenie in "The Curious Case of Benjamin Button" (2008).

Taraji P. Henson in a scene from "The Curious Case of Benjamin Button." Some of her other film roles include "Four Brothers" (2005), "Talk To Me" (2007), "Smokin' Aces" (2007) and "Tyler Perry's The Family That Preys" (2008).

Actress Taraji P. Henson arrives at the Santa Barbara International Film Festival for the Director in Residence presentation to "The Curious Case of Benjamin Button" director David Fincher, Friday, Jan. 30, 2009 in Santa Barbara, Calif. Henson has also been a cast member on several television shows, including Lifetime's "The Division" and ABC's "Boston Legal" for one season.

Actress Taraji P. Henson sits in the audience during the show at the 15th Annual Screen Actors Guild Awards on Sunday, Jan. 25, 2009, in Los Angeles. She has also guest-starred on several television shows, such as The WB's "Smart Guy" playing the role of Monique (1997--1998), the Fox Television show "House" in 2005 and the CBS' "CSI" in 2006

Taraji P. Henson and Brad Pitt, co-stars in "The Curious Case of Benjamin Button," walk on to the stage at the 15th Annual Screen Actors Guild Awards on Sunday, Jan. 25, 2009, in Los Angeles.

Screen Actors Guild award nominee Taraji P. Henson is interviewed alongside rehearsal cards that represent stars who will be present, during a media preview of the stage and settings for the 15th annual SAG awards presentation at the Shrine Auditorium in Los Angeles, Friday, Jan. 23, 2009.

Taraji P. Henson arrives at the 8th Annual Awards Season Diamond Fashion Show Preview, hosted by the Diamond Information Center and InStyle Magazine, in Beverly Hills, Calif., Thursday, Jan. 8, 2009.

Brad Pitt, left, gives a hug to his "Benjamin Button" co-star Taraji P. Henson at the 14th Annual Critics' Choice Awards on Thursday, Jan. 8, 2009, in Santa Monica, Calif.

Actress Taraji P. Henson arrives at the 14th Annual Critics' Choice Awards on Thursday, Jan. 8, 2009, in Santa Monica, Calif.

Actress Taraji P. Henson attends a Cinema Society screening of "The Curious Case of Benjamin Button" at the Tribeca Grand Hotel on Thursday, Dec. 11, 2008, in New York.

Actress Taraji P. Henson arrives for a special screening of "Tyler Perry's The Family That Preys" in New York, Monday, Sept. 8, 2008.

Actress Taraji P. Henson, left, and actor Don Cheadle arrive at the Los Angeles Film Festival Awards Night, Sunday, June 29, 2008, in Los Angeles.

Actress Taraji P. Henson arrives at the 39th NAACP Image Awards on Thursday, Feb. 14, 2008, in Los Angeles.

Actress Taraji P. Henson gestures as she rehearses the Oscar nominated song "It's Hard Out Here for a Pimp," from the film "Hustle & Flow," during a rehearsal for the 78th Academy Awards on Monday, Feb. 27, 2006, in Los Angeles. Henson, who sang the song in the film, performed with the group Three 6 Mafia. The song was the first rap song ever performed on the Oscars telecast. The song won for Best Original Song.

"Hustle & Flow" cast members Elise Neal, left, Terrence Howard, center, and Taraji P. Henson pose together at the premiere of the film at the Cinerama Dome in Los Angeles, Wednesday, July 20, 2005.