Henson describes Bertha as “the glue” of the operation: Though she doesn’t have any children, she’s a devoted maternal figure to her boarders, doing everything in her power to make them feel at home—whether that’s by making them soulful home-cooked meals or lending a nonjudgmental listening ear.

Set in 1911, Joe Turner’s Come and Gone takes place in a Pittsburgh boarding house run by Seth and Bertha Holly. The home becomes a refuge for Black travelers navigating the Great Migration. Among them is Herald Loomis, a man searching for his lost wife and for the self he lost after seven years of illegal enslavement under Joe Turner.

The Oscar-nominee on Hollywood burnout, Black resilience and her Broadway debut in August Wilson’s Joe Turner’s Come and Gone

Reflecting on her early career, the actor said her "discernment" told her she would have a different outcome than former co-star Tyrese, who is attached to two different franchises.

Get the latest news about Taraji P Henson. Find exclusive interviews, video clips, photos and more on Entertainment Tonight.

Taraji P. Henson has long been an equal pay advocate, particularly speaking out about uplifting fellow Black actresses. In a recent interview, she further highlighted “the difference between women and men in Hollywood.

Taraji P. Henson appeared on a recent episode of Hoda Kotb’s “Making Space” podcast (via People) and reflected on the moment she realized just how differently male and female actors are treated in Hollywood.

Taraji P. Henson joins TODAY’s Jenna Bush Hager and Sheinelle Jones to talk about taking on Broadway for the first time in August Wilson’s “Joe Turner’s Come and Gone” where she plays Bertha, who Henson describes as the “laughter and love” of the show.

Taraji P. Henson makes her Broadway debut in Joe Turner’s Come and Gone, reuniting with Debbie Allen in a powerful revival of August Wilson’s classic exploring identity and healing.