Many actors of color have spoken out on the lack of roles for people of color in Hollywood over the past few years. Tonight’s winner for best actress in a TV drama Taraji P. Henson, however, wants to be clear that she has been working consistently since 1997 -- it’s the accolades from mass audiences that are just coming in.
“I never was the actress who said there was no work [for me],” she said. “I really can’t complain.”
Her secret, she said, seems to be optimism.
“I’m an extreme optimist,” she said. “I came from the hood. You can’t be a pessimist living in the hood.”
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Golden Globe winners, including Rachel Bloom with her Golden Globe for Actress in a TV Series, Comedy or Musical, stop by the 73rd Annual Golden Globe Awards press room at the Beverly Hilton Hotel on Jan. 10, 2016.
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Actor Sylvester Stallone, winner of Supporting Performance in a Motion Picture for “Creed,” poses in the press room at the 73rd Annual Golden Globe Awards show at the Beverly Hilton Hotel on Jan. 10, 2016.
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Kate Winslet accepts her Golden Globe for Supporting Actress in a Motion Picture at the 73rd Annual Golden Globe Awards show at the Beverly Hilton Hotel on Jan. 10, 2016.
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Director Alejandro González Iñárritu, left, and actor Leonardo DiCaprio pose with awards for Best Motion Picture, Drama; Best Director, Motion Picture; and Best Performance by an Actor in a Motion Picture, Drama, for “The Revenant” in the press room at the 73rd Annual Golden Globe Awards show at the Beverly Hilton Hotel on Jan. 10, 2016.
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Winner Oscar Isaac for Performance by an Actor in a Limited Series or a Motion Picture Made for Television at the 73rd Annual Golden Globe Awards show at the Beverly Hilton Hotel on Jan. 10, 2016.
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Taraji P. Henson in the press room with her Golden Globe for Best Performance by an Actress in a Television Series - Drama at the 73rd Annual Golden Globe Awards show at the Beverly Hilton Hotel on Jan. 10, 2016.
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Matt Damon, winner for Performance by an Actor in a Motion Picture, Musical or Comedy, at the 73rd Annual Golden Globe Awards show at the Beverly Hilton Hotel on Jan. 10, 2016.
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Producers Mark Pybus, left, Colin Callender and Rebecca Eaton, winners of Miniseries or Television Film for “Wolf Hall,” pose in the press room at the 73rd Annual Golden Globe Awards show at the Beverly Hilton Hotel on Jan. 10, 2016.
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Jimmy Naples, left, and Sam Smith, winners of the Best Original Song in a Motion Picture for “Writing’s On The Wall” from the movie “Spectre”, at the 73rd Annual Golden Globe Awards show at the Beverly Hilton Hotel on Jan. 10, 2016.
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Aaron Sorkin, winner of Screenplay - Motion Picture for “Steve Jobs” at the 73rd Annual Golden Globe Awards show at the Beverly Hilton Hotel on Jan. 10, 2016.
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Director Laszlo Nemes, center, actor Geza Rohrig, second from left, and other members of the “Son of Saul” team pose with the award for best foreign-language film for “Son of Saul,” in the press room at the 73rd Golden Globe Awards show at the Beverly Hilton Hotel on Sunday.
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Jennifer Lawrence won the award for lead actress in a motion picture comedy for “Joy.”
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Christian Slater took home the prize for actor in a supporting role in a series, limited series or motion picture made for television, for “Mr. Robot.”
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Gael Garcia Bernal of “Mozart in the Jungle” wins for actor in a TV series, musical or comedy.
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“Mr. Robot” creator Sam Esmail, center, and the cast pose together after winning the Golden Globe award for best TV series drama.
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Maura Tierney holds her Golden Globe for supporting actress in a limited series/TV Movie for “The Affair.”
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Jon Hamm holds his Golden Globe for “Mad Men.”
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Winners of the best motion picture musical or comedy for “The Martian”: Simon Kinberg, left, Ridley Scott and Michael Schaefer.
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Pete Docter, left, and Jonas Rivera, winners of the best animated feature film for “Inside Out.”
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Lady Gaga with her Golden Globe for actress in a miniseries or a motion picture. She will perform the national anthem at Super Bowl 50.
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Gael Garcia Bernal, Bernadette Peters and Lola Kirke share the Golden Globe for TV series comedy for “Mozart in the Jungle.”
(Allen J. Schaben / Los Angeles Times) As such, she knew that her time would come once she got her foot in the door.
“Let me in the room and you’re going to eventually pay attention. I stayed in my lane I never hated on anyone. So what you see is someone who waited their turn.”
Cookie, the character for which she won from Fox’s hit hip hop drama “Empire,” doesn’t wait though, something everyone can take from the formerly incarcerated mother.
Taking on the role, Henson said, was the most daring thing she’s ever done.
“I was very nervous when I received the script [because] she wasn’t the most likable character -- and I’ve played characters that weren’t likable. But this one was challenging because it was primetime network television. She beat her son with a broom -- even though he did deserve it. She called one son a [f-word that rhymes with maggot]. But I’m the type of artist that if the role doesn’t scare me, I don’t want it.”
She continued, speaking on what “Empire” has done for television.
“I knew this was something special, something to shake up TV,” Henson said. “It was too safe and life is not safe. We did that with this show.”
Upon hearing her name called, her immediate reaction was to dole out cookies.
“It was like visceral,” she said. “I saw them and was like, ‘I guess I should hand them out.’”
One to Angela Bassett. Another to Lady Gaga. The last to Leonardo DiCaprio. But she didn’t expect to win.
“I just did not expect them to call my name. I never put that much on it. You never know how it’s going to come out.”
And for the “haters,” who said the show wasn’t good because of how it centers on homosexuality:
“That’s nonsense and it’s fear,” she said. “The numbers speak for themselves. We just ignore it. People are dealing with this. It’s not a joke. That’s why it’s in the script. People are struggling with this.”
“But we’re always going to have haters,” she continued. “Here’s to all my haters. I’ll send you cookies.”
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Comedian and host Ricky Gervais opened the show with jokes that made some laugh hysterically, and others cringe.
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Jennifer Lawrence accepts the award for actress in a motion picture comedy for her role in “Joy.” “Every time I’m up here, it’s because of you,” Lawrence said of her director David O. Russell.
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In the final award of the night, Alejandro G. Inarritu accepts the honor for motion picture drama for his film “The Revenant.”
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Brie Larson accepts the award for actress in a motion picture drama for her role in “Room.” After a long list of folks to shout out, she said, “I’m sorry to anyone I forgot, I’ll write you a thank you card.”
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As Taraji P. Henson walked to the stage to accept her award for actress in a TV drama, she passed out cookies to those around her, including one to Lady Gaga. “Cookies for everyone tonight, my treat,” she said for her winning role playing a character named Cookie in “Empire.” And just as she was asked to wrap up her speech, she refused. “I waited 20 years for this,” Henson said.
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After being announced as a two-time Golden Globe award winner, Jim Carrey made it known that he isn’t just a regular person, he is a two-time Golden Globe award winner. Though, of course, his dreams won’t be fulfilled, as he said, until he becomes a three-time Golden Globe award winner.
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Presenter Morgan Freeman announces the nominees for directing.
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Alejandro G. Inarritu accepts the award for director for “The Revenant.”
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Presenter Andy Samberg sparks laughs.
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Michael Keaton takes the stage to present an award.
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Sophia Bush, left, and Kate Bosworth present an award onstage.
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Maggie Gyllenhaal introduces the nominated film “The Room.”
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Music, what music? Ridley Scott made sure to get in all this “thank yous” while accepting the award for motion picture comedy for “The Martian.”
(Paul Drinkwater / Associated Press) Follow me on Twitter @TrevellAnderson
