It's hard to deny that actress Taraji P. Henson is the woman of the year in television, and it looks like she's finally getting some formal recognition.
After winning the critics and viewers with her starring role as Cookie in Empire, Henson won Best Actress in a Drama Series during the Critics’ Choice TV Awards on Sunday. Presented by the Broadcast Television Journalists Association, Henson had tough competition against Viola Davis of How To Get Away with Murder, Keri Russell of The Americans, Eva Green of Penny Dreadful, Vera Farmiga of Bates Motel, Robin Wright of House of Cards, Ruth Wilson of The Affair and Tatiana Mislay of Orphan Black.
“Fox, you’re bold. you took a shot. You took a risk, and that’s what art is about,” Henson said during her acceptance speech. “I take a risk every time I take a character. And boy, did I take a risk with Cookie. They’re either going to love or hate her. I just have to play the truth… [Costar] Terrence Howard, I love you. There is no Cookie without Lucius.”
Henson is the first African-American actress to win a Critics' Choice Award for Best Actress in a Drama Series. Though she's been working as an actress for two decades, only now is she beginning to get recognized by both the press and the public, for her work...a fact she poked fun at during her hosting turn on Saturday Night Live in April.
Empire’s pilot famously gained 13.95 million viewers with a total of 23.12 million viewers by the season finale. Empire was also nominated for Best Drama Series and Most Bingeworthy Show.