Taraji P. Henson isona mission
Taraji P. Henson has played numerous roles wherein she had to shoot a gun, but as the lead in “Proud Mary,” it’s the first time she’s a hit woman.
The “Empire” actress who made mathematics seem cool in “Hidden Figures” is now donning black leather, disguises and an an arsenal that would make John Wick proud, and is driving a Maserati to and from jobs working for an organized crime family in Boston.
Until her life is turned around when she meets a young boy whose path she crosses when a hit goes bad. The film’s teasers highlight action that we haven’t seen from Henson until now, and the posters hark back to a time when blaxploitation was the new kid on the block.
Henson, an executive producer on the film, chatted about her latest endeavor of female empowerment. The conversation has been edited for space and clarity.
Q: The film is one of empowerment, at a time when it’s needed. Did you plan this?
A: No, that’s just the way of the universe. It orders up the things that it needs when it’s the time. So I couldn’t have planned this better myself. And now I can use this platform to speak on some important issues. This movie is dealing with taking your power back and not becoming a victim, not being the victim. This woman wants out of a lifestyle that she is sick of. She has a bunch of men telling her she can’t leave. Well guess what? She takes the power back. That’s the storyline, but as far as me, the actress in the game? This movie speaks to an African-American woman of a certain age carrying a film like this, even being offered a role like this — this hasn’t happened since the ’70s.
Q: Why haven’t we seen a movie like this since then?
A: They don’t see the money. No one is smart enough to see the dollars in it. But they’re going to see it, though.
Q: It took the powers that be this long to wake up and smell the coffee?
A: People are fearful. People are changing positions in these studios, and they’re seeing what’s wrong. Women go to the movies more than men — appeal to the women, stupid!
Q: Did you base your “Proud Mary” character on any particular person?
A: Of course, I had to channel who came before me, and that’s Pam Grier. I just made her real, I made her honest. They don’t have a lot of female hit women out there, so I had to research men, and I came across this guy called Iceman (Richard Kuklinski) who was very interesting to me. I liked him — he did horrible things — but there’s something about him that I liked.
Q: What was your inspiration for the character?
A: Just all women trying to fight it out. It’s based on all kinds of women — women I know from the ’hood, women I know in my life, friends.
Q: Do you feel Mary will set the scene for heroines in 2018?
A: That’s my hope. I can’t predict the future, but I certainly have a lot of hope.