On Monday, Taraji P. Henson earned a star on the Hollywood Walk Of Fame. The Empire star, who earned an Academy Award nomination for Best Supporting Actress In a Motion Picture for her role as Queenie in the 2009 film The Curious Case Of Benjamin Button, was honored with speeches from Oscar-nominated director John Singleton and friend and fellow Oscar nominee Mary J. Blige.
“I keep looking at that star, going, ‘Is this real?’ You know I’ve imagined it and here it is,” the elated star said on her honor. Despite her honor, the What Men Want star expressed that she still wants to break barriers for actresses over 40.
“I want to be around forever. I want to break through glass ceilings when they tell women over 40 that, ‘Ah, you’re done. We’re sending you out to pasture. We’re going to hire something young and sexy,” Henson said. “Then when I look up and see these men doing these kick-ass roles at 60, I’m like, ‘Wait a minute, I still look good.”
Watch Taraji P. Henson’s full speech below:
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Photo by Albert L. Ortega/Getty Images
