Taraji P. Henson recently shed light on her challenging working conditions while filming The Color Purple.
In an interview with the New York Times, the 53-year-old actress disclosed that she was nearly forced to drive herself to the Atlanta-based set of the movie, produced by Oprah Winfrey.
Henson recounted, “We were provided with rental cars, and I thought, ‘I can’t be expected to drive myself around Atlanta. It’s a risk, it’s unsafe.’ Given the city’s notorious crime rate, it seemed ludicrous to me to commute alone in a rental car.”
The seasoned performer highlighted the need for self-advocacy and standing up for others during the film’s production, which premiered in theaters on Christmas day.
She went on, “I asked, ‘Could I have a driver or security?’ It’s not an outrageous request. But they responded, ‘If we do it for you, we must do it for everyone.'”
“Then do it for everyone! It’s things like this, things I shouldn’t have to battle for. On the set of Empire, I fought for bug-free trailers,” she said, addressing the frequent inequities she faces in Hollywood.
Henson further expressed her disappointments with The Color Purple, noting that Warner Bros. studio was reluctant to back the cast for an international press tour.
She also talked about the physical exhaustion of auditioning for the role of Shug Avery.
Questioning her need to continually prove her worth, she asked, “After singing, dancing, and hopping onto a table 88 times despite my sore knees, what more do I need to do?”
This follows an emotional moment last month when Henson discussed the pay disparity she experiences as a Black actress.
During a SiriusXM interview with host Gayle King, Henson became teary-eyed when asked about rumors of her potential retirement from acting.
She confessed, “I’m just exhausted from working so hard, being good at what I do, and yet receiving a fraction of the pay.”
The lead actress from Baby Boy expressed her dissatisfaction with earning less than some of her white co-stars in past roles, despite her top-billing status. She also repeated her criticisms of studio executives who insist she lacks international fans.
Henson emphasized that her frustrations over unequal pay resonate with many other Black actors.
She said, “My sisters are saying the same thing repeatedly. It’s exhausting.” She added, “People comment, ‘You work a lot.’ But I have to. The numbers don’t add up.”
Further exacerbating her financial strain was the necessity to assemble a team to handle her career and public appearances once she gained stardom. This substantially raised her costs, even as her earnings remained stagnant.
Henson explained, “When your workload increases, you need a team. Our profession comes with hefty bills. We don’t work solo. There’s an entire team supporting us. And they need to be paid.”