Taraji P. Henson wasn't an unknown commodity entering 2015. She had starred in several TV shows, appeared in critically acclaimed movies and received an Oscar nomination for her role in "The Curious Case of Benjamin Button."
But Henson really separated herself from the pack this year as Cookie Lyon, the family matriarch on the hit Fox drama, "Empire." Her extravagant animal prints, tough parenting skills and "real ass" took TV by storm and launched the show to record-breaking ratings.
The 45-year-old actress recently referred to Cookie as everyone's "spirit animal."
“She says the things people are afraid to say, she does the things people maybe don’t have the balls to do. But it seems like it’s coming from a real, true place. She’s not a mean person. Whenever she acts out, it’s because she’s taking up for herself, and rightfully so. And people see that," she told Entertainment Weekly.
See how Henson has celebrated her success on "Empire" in our review of the actress' big year in 2015. Read on, Boo-Boo Kitty!
Emmy-Nominating Role in "Empire"
Henson received an Emmy nomination for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama for her role as Cookie Lyon in "Empire." She was nominated alongside "How to Get Away with Murder" star Viola Davis, who won the award. It was the first time two black actresses had ever been nominated in the category in the same year.
Even though she didn't win, Henson jumped out of her seat and gave Davis a huge hug as she made her way to the stage.
Called in a Special Guest for Her "Lip Sync Battle" Performance
"Lip Sync Battle" finished its first season with an epic showdown between Henson and her "Empire" co-star, Terrence Howard. Howard eventually won the "LSB" title belt, but Henson really brought down the house when she brought out her best friend, Mary J. Blige, to assist on her performance of Blige's hit song, "Just Fine."
The Ladies Have No Need for Mixtapes Anymore
When developing his Apple Music commercial, prolific record producer Jimmy Iovine pictured a group of women talking about men and listening to music. He recruited Blige, Henson and "Scandal" star Kerry Washington to star in the Ava DuVernay-directed commercial, which premiered to rave reviews during the 2015 Emmy telecast.
Blige, Henson and Washington discuss their favorite types of music and how playlists can replace their physical mixtapes.
I'm Dreaming of a White Hot Holidays
Following the midseason finale of "Empire" season two, Howard and Henson hosted "Taraji and Terrence's White Hot Holidays." The music and variety special featured performances from Blige, John Legend, Patti LaBelle and "Empire" stars Jussie Smollett and Bryshere Y. Gray.
