Key points
Taraji P. Henson said that campaigning for an Oscar is like being on “a political campaign.”
The actress doesn’t understand the purpose of campaigning: “What am I convincing you to do? Why am I doing this?”
Henson said that it hurt to lose her category the one time she was nominated: “Am I being sensitive? I’m an artist. F— you. Yeah, I’m sensitive.”
Taraji P. Henson doesn’t enjoy participating in awards season.
The Empire actress, who was nominated for the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress in 2009 for her work in The Curious Case of Benjamin Button, shared her unfiltered thoughts on Oscar campaigning in a new interview with Vulture.
“I’ve only been nominated once, but I remember feeling like I was on a political campaign,” Henson remembered. “In a bad way, because you saw the movie. What am I convincing you to do? Why am I doing this? I already did press for the movie. We released it. And then you don’t win.”
Taraji P. Henson at the 2009 Academy Awards in Los Angeles on Feb. 22, 2009
Credit: Kevin Mazur/WireImage
The Hidden Figures actress noted that receiving a nomination without a win isn’t particularly gratifying. “It’s not fun,” she opined. “‘I’ve been nominated.’ F— you. Who gets in the race and wants to lose? Make it make sense. That’s toying with my emotions.”
She continued, “Am I being sensitive? I’m an artist. F— you. Yeah, I’m sensitive.”
Henson lost her category to Penélope Cruz for Vicky Cristina Barcelona.
After Vulture asked the Baby Boy star if she thinks campaigning matters when it comes to shaping the outcome of the Oscars, Henson responded, “I don’t even know. I don’t understand it anymore. I thought I did, but I don’t.”
Henson also said that she previously thought awards were ultimately given to people who excelled in their film, or to those who were long overdue to receive recognition from the Academy.
“[My previous understanding was] that if you’re good, you win,” she said. “Sometimes you would hear, ‘Oh, this person is owed.’ ‘They dropped the ball for so many years, and they have to give it to this person.'”
Taraji P. Henson and Brad Pitt in ‘The Curious Case of Benjamin Button’
Credit: Everett
Despite her disdain for awards campaigning, Henson has a few fond memories of hanging out with her Benjamin Button costar Brad Pitt and his then-partner Angelina Jolie during that 2009 circuit.
“My first time at the Oscars when I was nominated, I sat next to Brad and Angelina Jolie, and during the commercial breaks, we were at the bar doing shots,” she remembered. “Same with the Golden Globes — we were passing drinks underneath the table. Just put it this way: Anywhere I go, I’m going to have fun.”
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Although Benjamin Button director David Fincher is notorious for filming a massive amount of takes for every scene, Henson said that she was unfazed by his precision.
“That didn’t bother me because I’m a Virgo, so I’m kind of like that,” she said. “I had a great time with it. I love that character.”
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