‘Cookies for Everyone’: Taraji P. Henson Becomes the Third African-American Actress to Win Best Actress in a TV Drama at the Golden Globes

http://video.vulture.com/video/Taraji-P-Henson-s-Speech-at-the/player?layout=compact&read_more=1

It’s a sweet night for Taraji P. Henson.

Sunday, the “Empire” star walked away with her first Golden Globe for her groundbreaking role as Cookie on the Fox mega-hit. To celebrate appropriately, Henson wavered real cookies — yes, actual baked goods — in the air, as she stood up from her table to walk to the stage to accept her statue.

“Please wrap? I waited 20 years for this, you gonna wait,” Henson said on stage, proving that she shares similarities with her feisty “Empire” character who has become so popular for her one-liners on the show.

The award marked the first-ever Golden Globe win for “Empire.” The series was also nominated for best TV drama this year, but lost out to “Mr. Robot” from USA Network. “Empire’s” series nomination was the only recognition for a broadcast show in the major categories for the 2016 awards.

Nominated against Henson was Caitriona Balfe (“Outlander”), Eva Green (“Penny Dreadful”), Robin Wright (“House of Cards”) and “How to Get Away With Murder” star Viola Davis.

Henson and Davis were also up against each other at the 2015 Emmys with the award ultimately going to Davis, marking the first win for an African-American actress in the category.

At the time of the nominations, “Empire” showrunner Ilene Chaiken told Variety, “It’s so great to have Taraji out there again just carrying the flag for ‘Empire,’ which she does all over the world.” Describing what the award recognition means for the show, Chaiken said, “For us, it just reinforces and galvanizes us to do better and to keep pushing ourselves and to keep being fresh and to keep challenging ourselves. We’re doing something that feels new and fresh and worth taking notice of. That’s what it does for us. It fuels us.”

On stage Sunday night, Henson thanked her co-star, who plays the other half of the fan-favorite Lyon couple. “I’m taking this home for the entire ‘Empire,” the actress said. “Terrence Howard, I am nothing without you. Cookie is nothing without Lucious!”

Backstage, Henson was asked about the much-rumored “Empire” spinoff about Cookie’s early days, though she said nothing is in the works. “I think they’re going to try to accomplish that in flashbacks on our show. So stay tuned.” She added the Daniels was “pretty busy” on his other pilot for Fox.

SOURCE: Variety – Elizabeth Wagmeister