All language subtitles for Hart To Heart s01e05 Taraji P Henson.eng

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Would you like to inspect the original subtitles? These are the user uploaded subtitles that are being translated: 1 00:00:17,517 --> 00:00:19,557 * * 2 00:00:22,105 --> 00:00:24,105 She's an Academy Award-nominated 3 00:00:24,149 --> 00:00:26,529 and a Golden Globe-winning actress. (whoops) 4 00:00:26,568 --> 00:00:30,198 A producer, an entrepreneur and a mental health advocate. 5 00:00:30,238 --> 00:00:32,698 She's hilarious, and guess what, she's my friend. 6 00:00:32,741 --> 00:00:35,581 I think the last credit is probably the best one. 7 00:00:35,618 --> 00:00:37,538 She's my friend. 8 00:00:37,579 --> 00:00:39,539 I'm talking about Taraji P. Henson. 9 00:00:39,581 --> 00:00:41,211 -Hey. -Oh, look at this. 10 00:00:41,249 --> 00:00:42,709 -Hey. Oh. -Hi. Let me go down here. 11 00:00:42,751 --> 00:00:44,341 Stop doing that. Why do you do that? 12 00:00:44,377 --> 00:00:45,997 -I'm sorry. I'm sorry. -Why do you do that? 13 00:00:46,046 --> 00:00:47,626 You always got to go low. Stay high. 14 00:00:47,672 --> 00:00:49,052 Well, these chairs are pretty low. 15 00:00:49,090 --> 00:00:50,760 -Yes, well, I'm... -For you, huh? 16 00:00:50,800 --> 00:00:52,720 -I'm a small... -So your feet don't dangle like that? 17 00:00:52,761 --> 00:00:54,721 -It's to make me a taller guest. -Well, I need a real chair. 18 00:00:54,763 --> 00:00:56,563 -Sit back in the chair, Taraji. -Um, okay. 19 00:00:56,598 --> 00:00:58,098 I haven't seen you in a long time, Kevin. 20 00:00:58,141 --> 00:00:59,351 It's been a minute. You look amazing. 21 00:00:59,392 --> 00:01:01,232 -Thank you. -Really, really amazing. 22 00:01:01,269 --> 00:01:03,059 -This whole thing. -Thank you. So do you. So do you. So do you. 23 00:01:03,104 --> 00:01:04,904 It's actually been a while. When was the last time I seen you? 24 00:01:04,939 --> 00:01:06,229 "Think Like a Man"? 25 00:01:06,274 --> 00:01:07,534 -No! -No. No. 26 00:01:07,567 --> 00:01:09,777 Puffy's party. Puffy's party. 27 00:01:09,819 --> 00:01:11,399 Okay. Before we start, 28 00:01:11,446 --> 00:01:13,816 get the lay of the land and then I got to talk to my sister. 29 00:01:13,865 --> 00:01:15,445 -Okay. -First and foremost, I miss you. 30 00:01:15,492 --> 00:01:16,952 You don't realize how much you miss a person 31 00:01:16,993 --> 00:01:19,123 till you see 'em, like, in person, face-to-face. 32 00:01:19,162 --> 00:01:20,542 I haven't seen you, T. 33 00:01:20,580 --> 00:01:21,920 It's just made me miss you more. Dead serious. 34 00:01:21,956 --> 00:01:24,036 Oh, you're a horrible actor. Stick to comedy. 35 00:01:24,084 --> 00:01:25,294 -What do you mean? -(clears throat) 36 00:01:25,335 --> 00:01:26,745 -What do you mean? -(laughs) 37 00:01:26,795 --> 00:01:28,505 I just gave you, like, a heartfelt "I miss you." 38 00:01:28,546 --> 00:01:29,956 -That was serious. -Oh... 39 00:01:30,006 --> 00:01:31,876 -You're in my wine cellar, right? -I am? 40 00:01:31,925 --> 00:01:33,755 I know you love wine. That's where we are. 41 00:01:33,802 --> 00:01:35,762 -We're in my wine cellar right now. -But is this just...? 42 00:01:35,804 --> 00:01:37,604 Yes, well, here's what I'm about to tell you... 43 00:01:37,639 --> 00:01:39,349 -I thought I was gonna walk up on it. I'm sorry. -No. 44 00:01:39,391 --> 00:01:41,101 Am I too anxious? It's a pandemic. 45 00:01:41,142 --> 00:01:43,772 -My nerves. My anxiety. -No. Well, don't-- Well, calm down. 46 00:01:43,812 --> 00:01:45,942 -Okay. -You don't have to have nerves and anxiety right now. 47 00:01:45,980 --> 00:01:47,980 -'Cause I'm heart-to-heart? -We have a heart-to-heart. 48 00:01:48,024 --> 00:01:49,944 -Heart-to-heart. -But we have it over a glass of wine. 49 00:01:49,984 --> 00:01:52,454 -Yes, wine. Bring it in. Hello. -Okay. My somm. 50 00:01:52,487 --> 00:01:54,737 -This is my somm. My... -Good evening. 51 00:01:54,781 --> 00:01:56,321 -Good evening. Good evening. -Ms. Henson. Mr. Hart. 52 00:01:56,366 --> 00:01:57,776 -Good evening. -What are we drinking today? 53 00:01:57,826 --> 00:02:00,246 2018 Vin Rouge No 1. 54 00:02:00,286 --> 00:02:01,616 We're drinking a Vin Rouge No 1. 55 00:02:01,663 --> 00:02:03,673 But that's not what I asked for 56 00:02:03,707 --> 00:02:05,207 -when your people called me last night. -What did you want? 57 00:02:05,250 --> 00:02:06,710 -What did you want? -I said Caymus. 58 00:02:06,751 --> 00:02:08,381 -You wanted Caymus? -Yeah. 59 00:02:08,420 --> 00:02:09,840 I don't have Caymus, but I have a cabernet. 60 00:02:09,879 --> 00:02:11,379 -Oh, God. -Mm. -This is a Syrah blend. 61 00:02:11,423 --> 00:02:13,133 I don't drink every cabernet, though. 62 00:02:13,174 --> 00:02:15,094 -Okay. -Okay, I'll try it. I'm-I'm... I'm down for any. 63 00:02:15,135 --> 00:02:16,925 -Well, just try the... -I want to see... I'll try it. 64 00:02:16,970 --> 00:02:18,390 -Try the damn wine. -Mr. Hart, I got a D. 65 00:02:18,430 --> 00:02:19,470 -I'm-a try it. -I'm pouring her first. 66 00:02:19,514 --> 00:02:20,724 Pour her first, man. 67 00:02:20,765 --> 00:02:22,135 -Thank you. -You're very welcome. 68 00:02:22,183 --> 00:02:23,443 I don't know why you have to do this. 69 00:02:23,476 --> 00:02:24,556 You don't even know what this is. 70 00:02:24,602 --> 00:02:26,022 -I'm-a try it, but... -Try it. 71 00:02:26,062 --> 00:02:27,442 You know how when you have your taste buds set 72 00:02:27,480 --> 00:02:29,110 -on something? -Okay? 73 00:02:29,149 --> 00:02:30,439 Okay, so, if I called you and said, 74 00:02:30,483 --> 00:02:32,573 -"Kevin, let's go out to dinner." -Yeah? 75 00:02:32,610 --> 00:02:34,320 "My treat. Where do you want to eat?" 76 00:02:34,362 --> 00:02:35,702 -Okay. -"Pick a place." 77 00:02:35,739 --> 00:02:38,069 -I mean, if it's up to me? -Pick a place. 78 00:02:38,116 --> 00:02:39,986 I'm real big on, uh... 79 00:02:40,035 --> 00:02:41,075 I don't know. 80 00:02:41,119 --> 00:02:42,699 I'd probably... 81 00:02:42,746 --> 00:02:44,656 I'd probably ask for, like, a nice little chicken spot. 82 00:02:44,706 --> 00:02:46,996 Chicken spot. So if I take you to Crustaceans, 83 00:02:47,042 --> 00:02:49,172 and you ask for chicken... 84 00:02:49,210 --> 00:02:51,050 Do they have chicken at Crustaceans? 85 00:02:51,087 --> 00:02:52,587 Um, no. 86 00:02:52,630 --> 00:02:55,510 I'm not, I'm not you. I'm not that picky. 87 00:02:55,550 --> 00:02:57,390 -(laughs) -Okay? I'm not that picky, T. 88 00:02:57,427 --> 00:02:59,007 I know, but you asked me. 89 00:02:59,054 --> 00:03:00,604 -I didn't ask you nothing. -Okay, cheers. 90 00:03:00,638 --> 00:03:02,308 You know how I know I didn't ask you nothing? 91 00:03:02,349 --> 00:03:04,429 Because I don't talk to people before they come on the show. 92 00:03:04,476 --> 00:03:06,846 Your ego is very big, like your glass. 93 00:03:06,895 --> 00:03:08,765 Do you know why I don't talk to people that come 94 00:03:08,813 --> 00:03:10,573 -on the show, or before they come on the show? -Why? 95 00:03:10,607 --> 00:03:12,937 Because I want the conversation to be just raw, real. 96 00:03:12,984 --> 00:03:14,944 -You want this glass instead of mine? -(chuckles) 97 00:03:14,986 --> 00:03:16,906 I have a, I have a Napoleon complex. Give it back. 98 00:03:16,946 --> 00:03:19,236 Okay. I won't, I won't mess with you. 99 00:03:19,282 --> 00:03:21,952 -(laughs) I just love it. -(chuckles) Just-just give it... just give it back. 100 00:03:21,993 --> 00:03:23,753 I... I miss you, Kevin. 101 00:03:23,787 --> 00:03:25,457 First and foremost, let's start here. 102 00:03:25,497 --> 00:03:27,327 -Congrats, okay. -On...? 103 00:03:27,374 --> 00:03:29,384 Congrats on life, on success, 104 00:03:29,417 --> 00:03:32,837 on a continuing climb in this business, 105 00:03:32,879 --> 00:03:35,719 on maintaining a... 106 00:03:35,757 --> 00:03:38,297 straight, dope body of work... 107 00:03:38,343 --> 00:03:41,763 -Thank you. -...over the course of, I mean, what can I say now... 108 00:03:41,805 --> 00:03:43,765 -(scoffs) Don't age me, motherfucker. -How many years now? 109 00:03:43,807 --> 00:03:45,887 -I'm not gonna age you, but when was "Baby Boy?" -No, I'm good. 110 00:03:45,934 --> 00:03:47,814 It was literally, like, 20-something years. 111 00:03:47,852 --> 00:03:51,232 -"Baby Boy." -"Baby Boy" was what? 90...? (mutters) 112 00:03:51,272 --> 00:03:52,772 -No. No, no. -I was 29. 113 00:03:52,816 --> 00:03:54,226 KEVIN: So you're talking... 114 00:03:54,275 --> 00:03:55,645 TARAJI: I was 29 and Tyreese was 19. 115 00:03:55,694 --> 00:03:57,744 KEVIN: (chuckles) "Baby Boy" was in 2... 116 00:03:57,779 --> 00:03:59,699 It was early 2000s, though, right? 117 00:03:59,739 --> 00:04:01,869 -Yeah. Yeah. -I think when it came out. 118 00:04:01,908 --> 00:04:04,578 We filmed it, like, the end of 90... 119 00:04:04,619 --> 00:04:06,829 I think I was 29, so that's 1999, right? 120 00:04:06,871 --> 00:04:09,581 How many years, how many years in the business now for you? 121 00:04:09,624 --> 00:04:11,794 Little over 20. I stopped counting. 122 00:04:11,835 --> 00:04:14,245 -20 years in the business. Strong. -Yeah. Mm-hmm. 123 00:04:14,295 --> 00:04:16,455 And "Baby Boy," the first thing. 124 00:04:16,506 --> 00:04:18,256 -That's the first thing that Taraji P. Henson did. -"Baby Boy" was the first thing. 125 00:04:18,299 --> 00:04:19,679 -Yeah. Uh, no. -That was your arrival to the scene. 126 00:04:19,718 --> 00:04:21,338 That was the first feature. 127 00:04:21,386 --> 00:04:23,426 I came out here to do sitcom, you know? 128 00:04:23,471 --> 00:04:24,641 To-- You came out to L.A.? 129 00:04:24,681 --> 00:04:26,601 I came to L.A. to book a sitcom. 130 00:04:26,641 --> 00:04:28,021 Well, you're from, you're where it's real 131 00:04:28,059 --> 00:04:29,639 -and where it's thug at. -Well, you know, D.C. 132 00:04:29,686 --> 00:04:31,596 -You're from D.C., right? -(chuckles) 133 00:04:31,646 --> 00:04:33,766 -Mmm. -So in D.C., uh, 134 00:04:33,815 --> 00:04:36,525 I already know how-- Now, now-now apologize. 135 00:04:36,568 --> 00:04:38,028 -I'm sorry. -Apologize. 136 00:04:38,069 --> 00:04:39,489 I'm sorry. I'm so sorry. 137 00:04:39,529 --> 00:04:41,569 -Drinking the Rouge 2018. -(laughs): I'm so sorry. 138 00:04:41,614 --> 00:04:42,954 Can I have some when I leave? 139 00:04:42,991 --> 00:04:44,621 Huh? Yes, we can give you whatever you want. 140 00:04:44,659 --> 00:04:46,449 -We gonna go through this. Like... -(gasps) 141 00:04:46,494 --> 00:04:48,464 -I know you like to drink, so we're gonna drink. -This is amazing. 142 00:04:48,496 --> 00:04:50,666 -It's good! -What if I was recovering? 143 00:04:50,707 --> 00:04:53,587 -Well, you're not. -(laughs) 144 00:04:53,626 --> 00:04:55,456 And if you were, then I would be... 145 00:04:55,503 --> 00:04:57,463 -I would've just been like, "All right." -You'd feel... (laughs) 146 00:04:57,505 --> 00:04:59,465 -(chuckles) "Well, get the, uh..." -"Get the grape juice." 147 00:04:59,507 --> 00:05:02,087 "Get the, get the grape juice. Goddamn it, guys. 148 00:05:02,135 --> 00:05:03,845 We made a mistake." 149 00:05:03,887 --> 00:05:05,467 -Um... -This is really good, Kevin. 150 00:05:05,513 --> 00:05:07,223 But D.C. though, I'm saying, like, 151 00:05:07,265 --> 00:05:11,305 what-what is it that sparked the-the exit from D.C. to L.A.? 152 00:05:11,353 --> 00:05:13,653 I graduated from Howard University. 153 00:05:13,688 --> 00:05:16,398 -I was a mother already. -Mm-hmm. 154 00:05:16,441 --> 00:05:17,731 And that baby was looking at me like, 155 00:05:17,776 --> 00:05:19,356 -"What we gonna do now?" -Mm-hmm. 156 00:05:19,402 --> 00:05:22,362 And I was like, "Well, I got to go make this degree pop." 157 00:05:22,405 --> 00:05:25,445 So, my dad actually asked me, 158 00:05:25,492 --> 00:05:27,162 "How do you catch fish on dry land?" 159 00:05:27,202 --> 00:05:28,952 He used to speak in metaphors, and he was really brilliant-- 160 00:05:28,995 --> 00:05:30,825 may he rest in peace-- but I was like, 161 00:05:30,872 --> 00:05:32,332 "what-what the hell do you mean, Dad? 162 00:05:32,374 --> 00:05:33,714 Just, like, speak plain English?" 163 00:05:33,750 --> 00:05:35,710 And he was like, "You have a degree in acting. 164 00:05:35,752 --> 00:05:37,962 -You have to go to where the fish are." -Mm-hmm. 165 00:05:38,004 --> 00:05:40,174 "This is dry land, There's no acting jobs here." 166 00:05:40,215 --> 00:05:44,715 So he raised, him-him and my family pulled together 167 00:05:44,761 --> 00:05:48,931 and raised $700 and sent me out to L.A. 168 00:05:48,973 --> 00:05:51,483 And I asked a friend who was working for Delta at the time 169 00:05:51,518 --> 00:05:52,768 for a buddy pass. 170 00:05:52,811 --> 00:05:54,811 I knew I wasn't coming back. 171 00:05:54,854 --> 00:05:57,324 -One way? One way ticket. -One way. One way ticket. 172 00:05:57,357 --> 00:05:59,567 -You and your son or just you at the time? -Me and my son. 173 00:05:59,609 --> 00:06:01,859 -Wow. -My dad tried to keep my son. 174 00:06:01,903 --> 00:06:04,163 He was like... I'm like-- I was like, "You can't keep, 175 00:06:04,197 --> 00:06:07,077 that's my child." Like, I-- He's my responsibility. 176 00:06:07,117 --> 00:06:09,987 I'm not leaving my son with his grandparents. 177 00:06:10,036 --> 00:06:11,706 Just-- I'm not that type of parent. 178 00:06:11,746 --> 00:06:13,076 Like, we're gonna make it together. 179 00:06:13,123 --> 00:06:14,793 And then I got out to L.A. and freaked out. 180 00:06:14,833 --> 00:06:16,083 Like, "Dad, no, I need to send him back." 181 00:06:16,126 --> 00:06:17,456 And he was like, "No, you were right. 182 00:06:17,502 --> 00:06:19,212 He's gonna be your blessing." 183 00:06:19,254 --> 00:06:21,094 And-and, he's-he's alw... 184 00:06:21,131 --> 00:06:22,971 -You know a child is a blessing. Period. -You'll be so blessed. 185 00:06:23,008 --> 00:06:26,048 But coming out here single and trying to tackle Hollywood, 186 00:06:26,094 --> 00:06:27,264 he kept me focused. 187 00:06:27,303 --> 00:06:28,813 'Cause I couldn't club. I couldn't go out. 188 00:06:28,847 --> 00:06:31,057 Like, I was about that business. 189 00:06:31,099 --> 00:06:32,769 And people be like, "You need to go to the clubs." 190 00:06:32,809 --> 00:06:34,979 And I'm like, "Well, I'm smart enough to know that, 191 00:06:35,020 --> 00:06:37,150 -hmm, business ain't happening at a club." -Mm-hmm. 192 00:06:37,188 --> 00:06:39,188 It's too loud, people are drunk. (chuckles) 193 00:06:39,232 --> 00:06:40,902 -They're trying to do something else. -Yeah. 194 00:06:40,942 --> 00:06:43,032 Handle some other kind of... 195 00:06:43,069 --> 00:06:44,739 Back in my heyday. 196 00:06:44,779 --> 00:06:46,949 We not gonna talk about that. 197 00:06:46,990 --> 00:06:49,240 (laughing) 198 00:06:49,284 --> 00:06:51,834 You say TV. That was the beginning stages of it. 199 00:06:51,870 --> 00:06:55,170 What was the road of finding out the audition process? 200 00:06:55,206 --> 00:06:58,416 How did Taraji get seen, or start to get seen 201 00:06:58,460 --> 00:07:01,670 or try to figure out how to get into the, uh, the revolving... 202 00:07:01,713 --> 00:07:04,723 -The business? The business side of acting. -Yeah. The-the business of it. 203 00:07:04,758 --> 00:07:08,258 I had a agent, a local manager in D-- 204 00:07:08,303 --> 00:07:10,143 in Maryland at the time. 205 00:07:10,180 --> 00:07:12,890 And she had a couple connects out here. 206 00:07:12,932 --> 00:07:15,562 She hooked me up with this small-time agency. 207 00:07:15,602 --> 00:07:17,772 The first audition they sent me, 208 00:07:17,812 --> 00:07:20,902 -it was for a... a Norman Lear project. -Okay. 209 00:07:20,940 --> 00:07:23,360 They sent me out. So, this is the first... 210 00:07:23,401 --> 00:07:25,321 audition they sent me on. 211 00:07:25,362 --> 00:07:29,452 The same day, I get called back to go to network and studio. 212 00:07:29,491 --> 00:07:31,911 -Off the first audition? -First audition. 213 00:07:31,951 --> 00:07:33,791 -Um... -I mean, this is big for the morale. 214 00:07:33,828 --> 00:07:35,288 -(sputters) Come on. -This is huge, 215 00:07:35,330 --> 00:07:36,960 -huge for the morale. -I'm like, "I made it." 216 00:07:36,998 --> 00:07:38,788 -(laughs) -Yeah, huge for-- And the first thing, 217 00:07:38,833 --> 00:07:40,383 the first thing is always the biggest thing in your eyes. 218 00:07:40,418 --> 00:07:43,798 -Yeah. -Right. But this when I knew there was, uh... 219 00:07:43,838 --> 00:07:46,168 politics, or whatever. I don't know. 220 00:07:46,216 --> 00:07:47,756 Naming, pecking order. 221 00:07:47,801 --> 00:07:50,301 -Like, I had to work my way up to a name. -Mm-hmm. 222 00:07:50,345 --> 00:07:53,175 Because Rain, um, Pryor is 223 00:07:53,223 --> 00:07:55,483 who actually ended up getting it, as she should. 224 00:07:55,517 --> 00:07:56,847 People know her, they don't know me. 225 00:07:56,893 --> 00:07:58,523 -I'm new to the game. -Mm-hmm. 226 00:07:58,561 --> 00:08:01,021 So, that's when I was like, "Oh, okay, I see what it is." 227 00:08:01,064 --> 00:08:04,324 That agency never sent me out on another audition. 228 00:08:04,359 --> 00:08:07,199 But I was smart enough to know y'all got to go. 229 00:08:07,237 --> 00:08:10,697 (scoffs) So I dumped them, and I got another agency. 230 00:08:10,740 --> 00:08:12,620 And that was literally what was going on. 231 00:08:12,659 --> 00:08:14,829 They just didn't get me, you know. 232 00:08:14,869 --> 00:08:17,909 Um, I wasn't "the norm" at the time. 233 00:08:17,956 --> 00:08:20,496 You know, back then, it was like, 234 00:08:20,542 --> 00:08:22,502 -you had to look a certain way. -Mm-hmm. 235 00:08:22,544 --> 00:08:25,094 You know, nowadays... 236 00:08:25,130 --> 00:08:27,300 -I'm glad to be a Black woman. -Yeah. 237 00:08:27,340 --> 00:08:29,380 I've always been glad to be a Black woman, but it's, like, 238 00:08:29,426 --> 00:08:32,346 in Hollywood right now, you can wear your natural. 239 00:08:32,387 --> 00:08:35,177 you can... You know, back then you had to wear straight hair. 240 00:08:35,223 --> 00:08:36,893 You couldn't, you know, be your authentic s... 241 00:08:36,933 --> 00:08:38,353 You were trying to compete, you were trying 242 00:08:38,393 --> 00:08:40,103 -to compete with the... -Well, you had to fit in. 243 00:08:40,145 --> 00:08:42,435 Well, yeah. I mean, and, uh, it was... it was very far 244 00:08:42,480 --> 00:08:44,230 or few and in-between with the opportunities 245 00:08:44,274 --> 00:08:45,944 -for the Black woman. -Absolutely. 246 00:08:45,984 --> 00:08:47,614 They were only telling, like, a couple stories. 247 00:08:47,652 --> 00:08:49,532 A couple of our diverse stories, you know. 248 00:08:49,571 --> 00:08:51,531 -So I was... -What-- and you were mindful of that 249 00:08:51,573 --> 00:08:53,533 -at that point in time in your career? -Uh, well, I knew... 250 00:08:53,575 --> 00:08:56,285 Well, because what I kept getting from my agents 251 00:08:56,327 --> 00:08:58,957 at the time is they kept saying I was "too edgy." 252 00:08:58,997 --> 00:09:00,997 And I'm like, "Too edgy? What?" 253 00:09:01,041 --> 00:09:02,501 That's 'cause you're just thug. 254 00:09:02,542 --> 00:09:04,042 -Well, I am a thug. -Yeah. That's what that is. 255 00:09:04,085 --> 00:09:06,205 -But I'm a trained actress. -Very true. 256 00:09:06,254 --> 00:09:08,054 But you can't judge me on who I am, 257 00:09:08,089 --> 00:09:09,669 -'cause that's never gonna change. -Yeah. 258 00:09:09,716 --> 00:09:11,046 I don't judge you on it. I'm saying, I know... 259 00:09:11,092 --> 00:09:12,432 No, not you. 260 00:09:12,469 --> 00:09:14,049 -I-I'm just saying, I want you to know -(laughs) 261 00:09:14,095 --> 00:09:15,885 -that I know what's in there. -I know you know. 262 00:09:15,930 --> 00:09:17,520 -I know. Yeah, I know you do. -Like... Yeah, like this. 263 00:09:17,557 --> 00:09:18,887 -Like... -You don't, you'll never let me forget. 264 00:09:18,933 --> 00:09:19,853 Like, this, this. You got this thing. 265 00:09:19,893 --> 00:09:21,023 I got all of that. 266 00:09:21,061 --> 00:09:22,561 -Like, what you...? What? -What? 267 00:09:22,604 --> 00:09:23,864 -Yeah. Who you? -What? 268 00:09:23,897 --> 00:09:25,317 -Who you? What? -What? 269 00:09:25,357 --> 00:09:26,977 -Like, that's in there. -Grabbing the bottle. 270 00:09:27,025 --> 00:09:28,525 -Looking for the weapon. Yeah. -Yes. Yes. Yes. 271 00:09:28,568 --> 00:09:30,528 Oh, it's okay. I'm working... I have a therapist. 272 00:09:30,570 --> 00:09:32,410 -Okay. Okay. (laughs) -It's called rage. I'm working on it. 273 00:09:32,447 --> 00:09:34,117 And there are reasons for it. That's why therapy is good. 274 00:09:34,157 --> 00:09:36,027 Okay. Okay, we'll get there. We'll get down there. 275 00:09:36,076 --> 00:09:37,406 -(laughs) -We'll get down there. 276 00:09:37,452 --> 00:09:39,502 I can't, I can't wait to get down there. 277 00:09:39,537 --> 00:09:40,907 No, therapy is great. 278 00:09:40,955 --> 00:09:44,455 But, um, yeah, so it was just a lot of noes, 279 00:09:44,501 --> 00:09:45,921 a lot of knowing, um... 280 00:09:45,960 --> 00:09:48,590 You know, I knew that I had what it took. 281 00:09:48,630 --> 00:09:50,090 I knew that there was a lane 282 00:09:50,131 --> 00:09:51,931 that I had to carve out, like everybody. 283 00:09:51,966 --> 00:09:54,676 I don't think there's anybody that's like someone else. 284 00:09:54,719 --> 00:09:56,259 So whenever you come out here 285 00:09:56,304 --> 00:09:57,894 -you always have to carve out your lane. -Mm-hmm. 286 00:09:57,931 --> 00:09:59,311 Not unless you're saying, 287 00:09:59,349 --> 00:10:01,479 "I want to do exactly what this person did. 288 00:10:01,518 --> 00:10:03,138 -Let's do..." -Unless you want to pattern after an exact individual. 289 00:10:03,186 --> 00:10:04,686 -Yeah, well, who wants to do that? -Mm-hmm. 290 00:10:04,729 --> 00:10:05,939 You know? And that's okay, I'm not judging, 291 00:10:05,980 --> 00:10:08,110 but I wanted to create my own path. 292 00:10:08,149 --> 00:10:09,939 I wanted the naysayers to go like, 293 00:10:09,984 --> 00:10:11,534 "Damn, I'm sorry I second-guessed her." 294 00:10:11,569 --> 00:10:14,109 You know? You should always bet on TPH, baby. 295 00:10:14,155 --> 00:10:15,485 -I like that. -Don't bet against me. 296 00:10:15,532 --> 00:10:17,162 TPH, by the way, is what Taraji, 297 00:10:17,200 --> 00:10:18,950 that's her abbreviation for herself. 298 00:10:18,993 --> 00:10:21,503 That's Taraji P. Henson, just as you're watching... 299 00:10:21,538 --> 00:10:23,748 -(chuckles) -I know you probably thought it was a highway. 300 00:10:23,790 --> 00:10:25,130 -It's not. -(laughs) 301 00:10:25,166 --> 00:10:27,836 That's-that's Taraji. TPH is what she goes by. 302 00:10:27,877 --> 00:10:30,127 * * 303 00:10:39,723 --> 00:10:41,933 * * 304 00:10:44,310 --> 00:10:46,310 So, you know, you're out here. You're in it. 305 00:10:46,354 --> 00:10:48,194 Now you're in the flow of things. 306 00:10:48,231 --> 00:10:50,531 Things are going well. You booked a big role. 307 00:10:50,567 --> 00:10:52,857 -"Baby Boy" pops. Right? -Mm-hmm. 308 00:10:52,902 --> 00:10:55,702 Becomes a major success. RIP to John Singleton. 309 00:10:55,739 --> 00:10:56,989 -Yes. -I had, uh... 310 00:10:57,032 --> 00:10:58,622 I had Cube, and me and Cube talked. 311 00:10:58,658 --> 00:11:00,908 We talked about John Singleton for a minute. 312 00:11:00,952 --> 00:11:03,502 And now you being here, it's amazing 313 00:11:03,538 --> 00:11:05,458 just understanding and realizing 314 00:11:05,498 --> 00:11:08,208 how many careers John Singleton has touched. 315 00:11:08,251 --> 00:11:10,501 How many, you know, platforms he's given 316 00:11:10,545 --> 00:11:13,415 -to birth the stars that we're looking at today. -Mm-hmm. 317 00:11:13,465 --> 00:11:16,835 Is this surreal, after the success of "Baby Boy," for you? 318 00:11:16,885 --> 00:11:18,795 Um, no. I knew it was coming, 319 00:11:18,845 --> 00:11:20,175 but I knew it would be a slow burn. 320 00:11:20,221 --> 00:11:21,971 -Okay. -'Cause by that point 321 00:11:22,015 --> 00:11:23,925 I was really understanding the business, 322 00:11:23,975 --> 00:11:25,555 -and you know what I mean by that. -Mm-hmm. 323 00:11:25,602 --> 00:11:28,692 Um, I knew that Tyreese would pop before I did. 324 00:11:28,730 --> 00:11:31,480 Think about it. After "Baby Boy," he got, um, 325 00:11:31,524 --> 00:11:35,784 -"Transformers" and "Fast and Furious." -(imitates whooshing) 326 00:11:35,820 --> 00:11:37,910 What did I get? 327 00:11:37,947 --> 00:11:40,367 I was on Lifetime 328 00:11:40,408 --> 00:11:43,788 playing a rookie cop on this show called "The Division." 329 00:11:43,828 --> 00:11:45,578 But see, I knew I had to do that. 330 00:11:45,622 --> 00:11:47,002 -That was by choice. -Mm-hmm. 331 00:11:47,040 --> 00:11:48,420 Because you can't keep-- Don't keep-- 332 00:11:48,458 --> 00:11:50,168 'Cause I knew I was always getting, 333 00:11:50,210 --> 00:11:51,840 "She's edgy. She's edgy." 334 00:11:51,878 --> 00:11:54,048 -Now I play a edgy role... -Mm-hmm. 335 00:11:54,089 --> 00:11:55,799 ...and-and I started-- People were like, 336 00:11:55,840 --> 00:11:57,260 "They-- Where did they find this girl? 337 00:11:57,300 --> 00:11:59,090 She ain't even acting." So I took that as a-- 338 00:11:59,135 --> 00:12:01,255 "Okay, you just don't even know what I really can do." 339 00:12:01,304 --> 00:12:03,144 I do Shakespeare in the Park, Chekhov. 340 00:12:03,181 --> 00:12:04,561 I'm a trained actress, right? 341 00:12:04,599 --> 00:12:06,059 Put a chip on your shoulder a little bit? 342 00:12:06,101 --> 00:12:07,691 -Not really. It just... -Okay. 343 00:12:07,727 --> 00:12:09,097 I love when people doubt me. 344 00:12:09,145 --> 00:12:11,105 -I'm sure you understand that. -Absolutely. 345 00:12:11,147 --> 00:12:13,897 -'Cause, uh, you're laughing at a lot of people right now. -Absolutely. 346 00:12:13,942 --> 00:12:15,902 Oh, my God. Not even laughing, watching-- 347 00:12:15,944 --> 00:12:17,574 Did you send them their menu of crow, 348 00:12:17,612 --> 00:12:19,112 -and how they would like it? -It's just... I mean, you-you, 349 00:12:19,155 --> 00:12:21,315 you do understand there is a restaurant 350 00:12:21,366 --> 00:12:23,276 -that I'm familiar with. -Serves crow? 351 00:12:23,326 --> 00:12:26,656 -And it serves crow and humble pie. Right? -Whew. 352 00:12:26,705 --> 00:12:28,115 -Humble pie. So... -Yes. 353 00:12:28,164 --> 00:12:30,384 so I think there's nothing better than a, uh, 354 00:12:30,417 --> 00:12:32,917 a best served dish of humble pie, 355 00:12:32,961 --> 00:12:34,341 depending on how you like it. 356 00:12:34,379 --> 00:12:36,169 Some people like it cold, some people like it warm. 357 00:12:36,214 --> 00:12:38,384 -But it's not for me to give. -Yeah. 358 00:12:38,425 --> 00:12:40,255 -It's for you to understand. -To choose. I'm-a give you the menu. 359 00:12:40,301 --> 00:12:42,101 -Yes. You-- -You-you pick how you want that crow. 360 00:12:42,137 --> 00:12:43,467 -Absolutely. -Roasted. How you want it? 361 00:12:43,513 --> 00:12:45,063 -Absolutely. -Fried? (chuckles) 362 00:12:45,098 --> 00:12:47,478 But-- so that, then-- that just fuels me. 363 00:12:47,517 --> 00:12:49,227 And I think it's when you come from nothing, 364 00:12:49,269 --> 00:12:51,859 -you already have a chip on your shoulder. -Mm-hmm. 365 00:12:51,896 --> 00:12:54,016 You already have a lot to prove, right? 366 00:12:54,065 --> 00:12:55,815 That's how I came to Hollywood. 367 00:12:55,859 --> 00:12:58,319 And so everybody's telling me, "Oh, she's too this, 368 00:12:58,361 --> 00:13:00,241 she's too that. She's too this, she's too that." 369 00:13:00,280 --> 00:13:02,410 -I've been hearing that my entire career. -Mm-hmm. 370 00:13:02,449 --> 00:13:04,989 You know? That's why I almost didn't take Cookie. 371 00:13:05,035 --> 00:13:06,535 -Really? -I said no. 372 00:13:06,578 --> 00:13:09,658 I was in a-- I literally left "Person of Interest" 373 00:13:09,706 --> 00:13:12,326 because I didn't like how I was being handled on that show. 374 00:13:12,375 --> 00:13:15,545 I felt like my talent was being marginalized. 375 00:13:15,587 --> 00:13:18,417 And so I... 376 00:13:18,465 --> 00:13:20,795 I remember asking-- they might get mad-- 377 00:13:20,842 --> 00:13:22,182 I remember asking Chris Rock... 378 00:13:22,218 --> 00:13:23,928 and who else was in town at the time? 379 00:13:23,970 --> 00:13:25,720 It was Chris Rock and... 380 00:13:25,764 --> 00:13:27,144 -Jamie Foxx... -Okay. 381 00:13:27,182 --> 00:13:28,732 ...their opinion-- was it Jamie Foxx? 382 00:13:28,767 --> 00:13:30,727 I don't want to get anybody wrong, but it was somebo-- 383 00:13:30,769 --> 00:13:33,149 It was, like, high up that I really respect, 384 00:13:33,188 --> 00:13:35,518 and they just happened to be in New York at the time. 385 00:13:35,565 --> 00:13:37,105 And I bumped into them and I was like, 386 00:13:37,150 --> 00:13:39,530 "You know, I'm really having this issue. 387 00:13:39,569 --> 00:13:43,199 "I-I feel stifled. I can't go on work and do other things. 388 00:13:43,239 --> 00:13:45,449 "And I don't feel like I'm being used enough on this show. 389 00:13:45,492 --> 00:13:47,702 "And I'm a creative, and I'm sitting around 390 00:13:47,744 --> 00:13:49,374 "and I'm rotting in New York. 391 00:13:49,412 --> 00:13:50,712 And I want out." 392 00:13:50,747 --> 00:13:53,707 And they were like, "Oh, no! Don't you do that. 393 00:13:53,750 --> 00:13:55,250 "Don't you leave that show. 394 00:13:55,293 --> 00:13:57,553 "That's gonna be the end of your career. Don't leave." 395 00:13:57,587 --> 00:13:59,837 So then I'm-I'm like... 396 00:13:59,881 --> 00:14:02,051 Don't-- That-that, to me, 397 00:14:02,092 --> 00:14:03,682 was like, I got to prove them wrong 398 00:14:03,718 --> 00:14:06,348 because I felt like I was being marginalized, my talent. 399 00:14:06,388 --> 00:14:07,928 -Mm-hmm. -I didn't... 400 00:14:07,972 --> 00:14:11,272 -I wanted to shine and-and be a creative. -Okay. 401 00:14:11,309 --> 00:14:13,769 And it would be, like, weeks and weeks I wasn't working. 402 00:14:13,812 --> 00:14:15,482 I would work two days here. 403 00:14:15,522 --> 00:14:17,982 -I just-- It wasn't enough for me as a creative. -Mm-hmm. 404 00:14:18,024 --> 00:14:19,324 Thank God, you know, 405 00:14:19,359 --> 00:14:21,069 the producers and the network and I-- 406 00:14:21,111 --> 00:14:23,911 They-- You know, what network wants a actor that's not happy? 407 00:14:23,947 --> 00:14:26,737 Like, I would release that actor in a minute if you're not happy. 408 00:14:26,783 --> 00:14:28,163 I literally had to reset, 409 00:14:28,201 --> 00:14:29,741 'cause I-I didn't like acting anymore. 410 00:14:29,786 --> 00:14:31,406 -I really didn't like... -Damn. 411 00:14:31,454 --> 00:14:34,374 Because it was po-- It was too much, uh, "minursha" in it, 412 00:14:34,416 --> 00:14:36,246 -you know what I mean? -What does "minursha" mean? 413 00:14:36,292 --> 00:14:37,922 M-- Am I saying that right? 414 00:14:37,961 --> 00:14:39,341 I said it right. 415 00:14:39,379 --> 00:14:41,299 -Minutiae! (laughs) -Minutiae! 416 00:14:41,339 --> 00:14:43,799 (imitates hiccup) Hiccup. Um, minutiae. 417 00:14:43,842 --> 00:14:46,182 (both laughing) 418 00:14:46,219 --> 00:14:47,509 -Minutiae. -Minutiae. 419 00:14:47,554 --> 00:14:48,974 -Um, you know what that... -(laughs) 420 00:14:49,014 --> 00:14:50,314 Were you trying to be smart, you... 421 00:14:50,348 --> 00:14:51,768 No. I really don't know what it means. 422 00:14:51,808 --> 00:14:53,438 -Do you know what "minutiae" means? -No! 423 00:14:53,476 --> 00:14:55,096 Okay. The mess. The muddle. 424 00:14:55,145 --> 00:14:56,685 -The-the all the red tape. -Okay. 425 00:14:56,730 --> 00:14:58,570 -The details. -Okay. 426 00:14:58,606 --> 00:15:00,476 Yeah. I was just like, I just want to be talented. 427 00:15:00,525 --> 00:15:02,605 I just want to do what I came out here to do. 428 00:15:02,652 --> 00:15:05,572 So I literally was like, let me do a reset. 429 00:15:05,613 --> 00:15:07,623 Let me see how I really feel about this craft 430 00:15:07,657 --> 00:15:09,367 that I thought I loved all my life. 431 00:15:09,409 --> 00:15:11,619 I went to do a play in Pasadena. 432 00:15:11,661 --> 00:15:12,951 Wow. 433 00:15:12,996 --> 00:15:14,786 And... 'Cause that's where I come from-- theater. 434 00:15:14,831 --> 00:15:17,791 To find that-- To just simply spark, spark your love back. 435 00:15:17,834 --> 00:15:19,884 -Absolutely. I had... -I need to fall back in love with this thing. 436 00:15:19,919 --> 00:15:21,249 -You got it. -Got you. 437 00:15:21,296 --> 00:15:22,796 And so I'm in Pasadena. 438 00:15:22,839 --> 00:15:24,719 I didn't care if anybody came to see it. 439 00:15:24,758 --> 00:15:26,798 I didn't care. I was there for my own reason. 440 00:15:26,843 --> 00:15:30,603 It wasn't for casting directors or producers or... 441 00:15:30,638 --> 00:15:32,308 I didn't care, 442 00:15:32,349 --> 00:15:36,229 because I didn't care that that thing sold out. 443 00:15:36,269 --> 00:15:39,149 The first two nights of preview-- 444 00:15:39,189 --> 00:15:42,279 not opening night, preview-- they made all their money back. 445 00:15:42,317 --> 00:15:46,357 And from the preview on, that place sold out every night. 446 00:15:46,404 --> 00:15:48,074 How long, how long did the play go? 447 00:15:48,114 --> 00:15:50,244 Six weeks, that's all. Six weeks. 448 00:15:50,283 --> 00:15:52,163 And people were driving-- 449 00:15:52,202 --> 00:15:54,832 -Um, you know Pas-- This is not a theater town. -Mm-mmm. 450 00:15:54,871 --> 00:15:56,501 This is not like New York, people go to the theater. 451 00:15:56,539 --> 00:15:58,169 Here, they don't really go to the theater. 452 00:15:58,208 --> 00:15:59,918 So you mean people are traveling to Pasadena. 453 00:15:59,959 --> 00:16:02,499 Pasadena, for anybody that's not from L.A., 454 00:16:02,545 --> 00:16:05,255 -it's not close. It's out. -It's a distance. 455 00:16:05,298 --> 00:16:06,628 -It's a distance. -Yeah. 456 00:16:06,675 --> 00:16:08,715 And people were coming from miles around. 457 00:16:08,760 --> 00:16:11,970 Crenshaw, Compton. My audience found me. 458 00:16:12,013 --> 00:16:15,313 They saw my name above the title on that play, and they found me. 459 00:16:15,350 --> 00:16:18,650 Not only did they find me, Fox found me, 460 00:16:18,687 --> 00:16:20,267 and they were coming to me every night. 461 00:16:20,313 --> 00:16:21,403 And my manager at the time was like, 462 00:16:21,439 --> 00:16:23,109 "Yeah, go outside and meet Fox. 463 00:16:23,149 --> 00:16:24,529 They're-they're gonna be there after the show." And I'm like, 464 00:16:24,567 --> 00:16:26,187 "For what?" "They got a script." 465 00:16:26,236 --> 00:16:27,526 I said, "Didn't I tell you I don't want to do TV? 466 00:16:27,570 --> 00:16:30,030 -I'm done with TV. I'm done." -Wow. 467 00:16:30,073 --> 00:16:32,333 * * 468 00:16:43,628 --> 00:16:45,668 * * 469 00:16:48,174 --> 00:16:49,434 -Have you ever done theater? -No. 470 00:16:49,467 --> 00:16:51,217 -(exhales) You did, -No. 471 00:16:51,261 --> 00:16:52,851 -uh, "Saturday Night Live," right? -I keep hearing it's... 472 00:16:52,887 --> 00:16:54,257 -Yes. -It's like that. 473 00:16:54,305 --> 00:16:56,265 I keep hearing it's-it's a different monster, 474 00:16:56,307 --> 00:16:57,847 -but it's a rush like no other. -It's a di-- The closest I can get-- 475 00:16:57,892 --> 00:16:59,852 Uh, did you get a rush on NB-- on, um... 476 00:16:59,894 --> 00:17:01,774 -"Saturday Night?" -"SNL"? Absolutely. 477 00:17:01,813 --> 00:17:03,273 -Absolutely. Yeah. -'Cause it's-it's boom, boom, boom. 478 00:17:03,314 --> 00:17:04,734 You practice and then you go, right? 479 00:17:04,774 --> 00:17:06,444 -It's live. You're live. -Even... that's 480 00:17:06,484 --> 00:17:08,284 even more fast-paced, but that's what theatre is. 481 00:17:08,319 --> 00:17:09,779 It's live. So if you flub a line, 482 00:17:09,821 --> 00:17:11,161 you better figure out how to make it work. 483 00:17:11,197 --> 00:17:12,447 If the set falls on your head, 484 00:17:12,490 --> 00:17:14,120 you don't have the luxury of take two. 485 00:17:14,159 --> 00:17:16,829 So that's why I feel like a lot of the stronger actors 486 00:17:16,870 --> 00:17:19,750 are comedians 'cause y'all have to do that all the time 487 00:17:19,789 --> 00:17:21,329 with hecklers and stuff like that, 488 00:17:21,374 --> 00:17:23,004 -and people who come from theater. -Mm-hmm. 489 00:17:23,043 --> 00:17:25,633 Because it's live. It's in the moment all the time. 490 00:17:25,670 --> 00:17:27,920 You can't-- Like I said, you don't have the luxury of, 491 00:17:27,964 --> 00:17:30,134 "Take, oh, I messed up. Can I do it again? 492 00:17:30,175 --> 00:17:31,545 -Cut! And reset. Yeah. -(laughs) Right? 493 00:17:31,593 --> 00:17:34,303 No, no, the c-- The audience is already in. 494 00:17:34,346 --> 00:17:35,846 They suspended their disbelief. 495 00:17:35,889 --> 00:17:37,679 They got-- You got to take them with you, you know. 496 00:17:37,724 --> 00:17:39,734 This wine is really good, and I forgot where I was going. 497 00:17:39,768 --> 00:17:41,558 -I could give you. I'm right here with you. -Tell me, what is it? 498 00:17:41,603 --> 00:17:43,773 So, theater. After that, Fox wants to talk to you. 499 00:17:43,813 --> 00:17:45,653 -Fox is outside. -And I finally, um, read the script... 500 00:17:45,690 --> 00:17:47,820 -I'm one of the best listeners ever. -You are incredible. 501 00:17:47,859 --> 00:17:49,569 A listener. Uh, 'cause I'm engaged. 502 00:17:49,611 --> 00:17:51,201 -Your story is that good. -Wow. 503 00:17:51,237 --> 00:17:52,607 If it wasn't, then I'd be lost. 504 00:17:52,655 --> 00:17:54,065 I'd be like, "I don't know where you are," 505 00:17:54,115 --> 00:17:55,825 and I would find something else to talk about, 506 00:17:55,867 --> 00:17:57,367 -but I want to know, like... -Wow, you're amazing. 507 00:17:57,410 --> 00:17:59,250 -Yes. So, now Fox is there. -(chuckles) 508 00:17:59,287 --> 00:18:00,867 -Fox wants to what? They want to sign you? -So, they send me-- 509 00:18:00,914 --> 00:18:03,254 So, I finally read the script, 'cause now Fox is 510 00:18:03,291 --> 00:18:05,171 meeting me backstage every night. 511 00:18:05,210 --> 00:18:07,670 And I'm like, "I guess I better read this script." 512 00:18:07,712 --> 00:18:10,262 So, I start reading the script. I was so scared. 513 00:18:10,298 --> 00:18:11,928 I was like, no, she's horrible. 514 00:18:11,966 --> 00:18:13,676 She calls her gay son the f-bomb. 515 00:18:13,718 --> 00:18:15,928 She beats one with a broom, even though, huh, 516 00:18:15,970 --> 00:18:18,140 you know I'm that kind of mom if you push me. 517 00:18:18,181 --> 00:18:20,481 Um... (laughs) But... 518 00:18:20,517 --> 00:18:22,187 but I was like, I can't do this on TV. 519 00:18:22,227 --> 00:18:24,437 The white people-- oh, my God-- they're gonna be like, "Oh, no." 520 00:18:24,479 --> 00:18:28,319 But, um, once I am scared, 521 00:18:28,358 --> 00:18:29,978 that's when I know I have to do it. 522 00:18:30,026 --> 00:18:32,526 So if I don't feel challenged, I won't... 523 00:18:32,570 --> 00:18:34,700 What was you and-and Lee's conversation 524 00:18:34,739 --> 00:18:36,779 in the beginning stages of-of that? 525 00:18:36,825 --> 00:18:41,365 Lee... So, Lee, um, was overseas 526 00:18:41,413 --> 00:18:44,423 promoting "The Butler" at the time. 527 00:18:44,457 --> 00:18:46,787 And they set up a Skype for us. 528 00:18:46,835 --> 00:18:49,875 And I finally read the script, and I really liked it. 529 00:18:49,921 --> 00:18:51,511 And, like, when I read it, I was like, 530 00:18:51,548 --> 00:18:52,758 "Oh, this is me and Terrence Howard." 531 00:18:52,799 --> 00:18:54,549 -Mm-hmm. Mm-hmm. -Hands down. This is-- 532 00:18:54,592 --> 00:18:56,222 Terrence will kill this role. 533 00:18:56,261 --> 00:18:58,051 And we have that dyna-- Like, I was like, "Oh, my God." 534 00:18:58,096 --> 00:18:59,556 Was Terrence already... was he already the guy? 535 00:18:59,597 --> 00:19:00,927 -No, he was not. -Okay. 536 00:19:00,974 --> 00:19:03,274 I don't know who they had gone out to, but they... 537 00:19:03,309 --> 00:19:04,559 (belches quietly) 538 00:19:04,602 --> 00:19:05,852 (chuckles): Excuse me. I was a lady. 539 00:19:05,895 --> 00:19:07,225 I didn't go... (imitates loud belch) 540 00:19:07,272 --> 00:19:10,112 -But, um... (laughs) -(laughs) 541 00:19:10,150 --> 00:19:11,900 But, um... 542 00:19:11,943 --> 00:19:14,493 But, um, so, they had already gone out to someone. 543 00:19:14,529 --> 00:19:16,449 And so by the time I talk to Lee, I was like, 544 00:19:16,489 --> 00:19:18,739 "Lee, look. I love this project. I think it's great, 545 00:19:18,783 --> 00:19:20,453 but I'm not doing it unless it's Terrence." 546 00:19:20,493 --> 00:19:23,253 -Wow. Wow. -So... Bye-bye. Click, ooh. 547 00:19:23,288 --> 00:19:26,418 Closed him. And next thing you know, 548 00:19:26,458 --> 00:19:28,538 I'm going in to read with Terrence. 549 00:19:28,585 --> 00:19:30,415 -Just like that? -Just like that. 550 00:19:30,462 --> 00:19:32,212 And based off of you and Terrence's history-- 551 00:19:32,255 --> 00:19:35,085 Now, before this, just to connect some tissue here, 552 00:19:35,133 --> 00:19:37,593 you know, "Hustle and Flow," you and Terrence did-- 553 00:19:37,635 --> 00:19:39,255 amazing movie, amazing project. 554 00:19:39,304 --> 00:19:41,264 -Mm-hmm. Thank you. -Another John Singleton piece. 555 00:19:41,306 --> 00:19:43,886 So, I just want to tag on these relationships real quick. 556 00:19:43,933 --> 00:19:47,983 Um, you and John. What was that relationship for you, 557 00:19:48,021 --> 00:19:51,021 uh, with you in the business in those younger stages? 558 00:19:51,066 --> 00:19:53,106 Because "Hustle and Flow" came after "Baby Boy." 559 00:19:53,151 --> 00:19:54,321 -Yes. -Yes. 560 00:19:54,361 --> 00:19:55,701 So that was a call to you? 561 00:19:55,737 --> 00:19:56,947 -Was that an audition? -No. 562 00:19:56,988 --> 00:19:58,528 Was that you from the gate, or what? 563 00:19:58,573 --> 00:20:00,033 John called me and said, "I have this script, 564 00:20:00,075 --> 00:20:01,525 "'Hustle and Flow.' I want you to read it. 565 00:20:01,576 --> 00:20:03,196 "This dope new director, Craig Brewer. 566 00:20:03,244 --> 00:20:04,624 -He bop, bop, bop." -Okay. 567 00:20:04,662 --> 00:20:05,792 And he was like, "I'm sending you this script. 568 00:20:05,830 --> 00:20:07,620 -You pick the role." -Okay. 569 00:20:07,665 --> 00:20:09,745 "Boo, I need your eyes." That's what he said. 570 00:20:09,793 --> 00:20:11,593 He always talked about my eyes. 571 00:20:11,628 --> 00:20:13,758 Actually, his mother, to this day, calls me Betty Davis-- 572 00:20:13,797 --> 00:20:15,587 -Betty Davis eyes. -Wow. Wow. 573 00:20:15,632 --> 00:20:19,142 But, um... So-- And he called me Lucy. 574 00:20:19,177 --> 00:20:21,047 Lucille Ball. (chuckles) 575 00:20:21,096 --> 00:20:23,346 But anyway, so, um, 576 00:20:23,390 --> 00:20:26,730 he called and said, "I need you to-to be in this movie. 577 00:20:26,768 --> 00:20:28,598 It's a independent." Blah, blah, blah. 578 00:20:28,645 --> 00:20:30,805 "I just need your eyes. Read the script." 579 00:20:30,855 --> 00:20:33,525 And, you know, of course Lexus jumped out, 580 00:20:33,566 --> 00:20:35,066 but I was like, no, because remember, 581 00:20:35,110 --> 00:20:36,990 I'm fighting against what Hollywood is telling me. 582 00:20:37,028 --> 00:20:38,528 -You didn't want to be that character. Yeah. -Right. 583 00:20:38,571 --> 00:20:39,821 So I was like, "Nah, I can do that 584 00:20:39,864 --> 00:20:41,414 with my hands behind my back." 585 00:20:41,449 --> 00:20:43,539 I was like, "But this Shug is a quiet... 586 00:20:43,576 --> 00:20:45,826 She's a quiet storm." 587 00:20:45,870 --> 00:20:48,370 -And then I was just drawn... -I was gonna say, you were very, you were very... 588 00:20:48,415 --> 00:20:49,995 -you were very much different. -Oh, God. 589 00:20:50,041 --> 00:20:52,631 Like, she was, she was subdued a little bit, you know. 590 00:20:52,669 --> 00:20:53,919 -She was very... -She was a diamond in the rough. 591 00:20:53,962 --> 00:20:56,672 Very, very, uh... what-what's it-- 592 00:20:56,715 --> 00:20:58,545 Like a introvert to a certain degree. 593 00:20:58,591 --> 00:21:01,341 And, you know, when-when she got on the microphone, 594 00:21:01,386 --> 00:21:05,346 she had came out a little bit, but it was very much laid back. 595 00:21:05,390 --> 00:21:07,520 -You weren't as-- You weren't aggressive... -No. 596 00:21:07,559 --> 00:21:09,099 ...in-in "Hustle and Flow" at all. 597 00:21:09,144 --> 00:21:10,774 -She was a very different character. -Absolutely. 598 00:21:10,812 --> 00:21:12,652 Her voice-- She had never heard her voice before. 599 00:21:12,689 --> 00:21:15,189 -Absolutely. -Because people had always taken advantage of her, 600 00:21:15,233 --> 00:21:18,193 so she didn't feel important enough to speak up for herself. 601 00:21:18,236 --> 00:21:20,196 -It was a discovery. Mm-hmm. -You know, that's the research I did. 602 00:21:20,238 --> 00:21:22,698 But it was in there, you know. I just went a little further. 603 00:21:22,741 --> 00:21:24,871 I just remember when I read it, I was like, 604 00:21:24,909 --> 00:21:26,199 I want the audience to want 605 00:21:26,244 --> 00:21:27,874 to reach through the screen and hug her, 606 00:21:27,912 --> 00:21:30,372 and get her and take care of her. I just-- 607 00:21:30,415 --> 00:21:33,455 Because that's what I felt like when I saw her, when I read her. 608 00:21:33,501 --> 00:21:36,381 And you and Terrence, at the time you guys did this movie, 609 00:21:36,421 --> 00:21:38,051 from the gate, you guys hit it off? 610 00:21:38,089 --> 00:21:40,089 -From the gate? -Terrence didn't want me for Shug. 611 00:21:40,133 --> 00:21:42,473 -Really? -Yeah. You have him on the show and ask him about that. 612 00:21:42,510 --> 00:21:43,720 -Really? -Mm-hmm. 613 00:21:43,762 --> 00:21:44,932 He didn't want you to play the part? 614 00:21:44,971 --> 00:21:46,511 -No, he... (mumbles) -And so, what... 615 00:21:46,556 --> 00:21:47,806 Not until I auditioned. 616 00:21:47,849 --> 00:21:49,889 Then when I auditioned and I came in, 617 00:21:49,934 --> 00:21:52,904 and he was like... (imitates barking) 618 00:21:52,937 --> 00:21:55,317 -(laughs) -Okay. And from that, 619 00:21:55,357 --> 00:21:58,567 -did you guys maintain a relationship? Were you cool? -Yeah. Mm-hmm. 620 00:21:58,610 --> 00:22:00,490 So that way, by the time you got to "Empire," 621 00:22:00,528 --> 00:22:01,908 and it-- And, you know, you go, 622 00:22:01,946 --> 00:22:03,616 -"Yo, this is Terrence all day." -Yeah. 623 00:22:03,656 --> 00:22:06,326 Terrence finds out. "Oh, my God. 624 00:22:06,368 --> 00:22:08,078 "Taraji, she's on. 625 00:22:08,119 --> 00:22:11,409 My girl relationship, chemistry, energy." 626 00:22:11,456 --> 00:22:13,666 We get here. Lee gets there. 627 00:22:13,708 --> 00:22:15,288 You put this piece to the puzzle together. 628 00:22:15,335 --> 00:22:17,705 From the beginning stages-- here's my biggest question-- 629 00:22:17,754 --> 00:22:19,924 did you know this was a success? 630 00:22:19,964 --> 00:22:23,344 Did you expect "Empire" to be what it was? 631 00:22:23,385 --> 00:22:25,425 Like, you know, those TV... 632 00:22:25,470 --> 00:22:27,640 TV shows that are really hit shows, 633 00:22:27,681 --> 00:22:29,561 they don't come often. 634 00:22:29,599 --> 00:22:32,849 -Yeah. -You don't get the ones that reach the global status often. 635 00:22:32,894 --> 00:22:34,774 You guys reached global status. 636 00:22:34,813 --> 00:22:38,443 -That was a monumental hit. -Yeah. 637 00:22:38,483 --> 00:22:40,493 So, for you in the beginning stages, 638 00:22:40,527 --> 00:22:42,067 did you know that, realize that, 639 00:22:42,112 --> 00:22:45,622 when, you know, you guys are pilot and first season? 640 00:22:45,657 --> 00:22:47,907 I knew it would be a hit domestically. 641 00:22:47,951 --> 00:22:50,621 -Okay. Okay. -I wasn't expecting international. 642 00:22:50,662 --> 00:22:52,662 Because I was told my entire career 643 00:22:52,706 --> 00:22:54,166 that Black don't do well overseas. 644 00:22:54,207 --> 00:22:56,577 Mm-hmm. Mm-hmm. Mm-hmm. 645 00:22:56,626 --> 00:22:59,916 Then I get overseas to Paris, of all places, 646 00:22:59,963 --> 00:23:04,473 and 1,500 seats, standing room only. 647 00:23:04,509 --> 00:23:07,139 It's "French-speaking" citizens. 648 00:23:08,638 --> 00:23:10,218 They hid me in the audience. 649 00:23:10,265 --> 00:23:12,725 There was a Q and A, Lee's on the stage, 650 00:23:12,767 --> 00:23:14,097 and when they got to the Cookie questions, 651 00:23:14,144 --> 00:23:15,734 he said, "Well, let's ask her." 652 00:23:15,770 --> 00:23:17,520 -Ask her. -Here she is. 653 00:23:17,564 --> 00:23:19,074 Listen to me. 654 00:23:19,107 --> 00:23:23,817 The entire room stood to their feet and like this. 655 00:23:23,862 --> 00:23:25,912 I stood on that stage and ugly-face cried 656 00:23:25,947 --> 00:23:27,567 -in front of those people. -Shocked. 657 00:23:27,615 --> 00:23:30,155 -Because they lied to me. -Yeah. 658 00:23:30,201 --> 00:23:32,081 Then when I go outside, 659 00:23:32,120 --> 00:23:34,000 they weren't greeting me as Cookie. 660 00:23:34,039 --> 00:23:35,419 (in French accent): "Taraji. Taraji. 661 00:23:35,457 --> 00:23:37,377 Taraji, can I please-- Please sign. Taraji." 662 00:23:37,417 --> 00:23:40,797 -They knew who you were. -But they had jackets to all my movies. 663 00:23:40,837 --> 00:23:42,797 -Mm. Mm. -"Baby Boy" included. 664 00:23:42,839 --> 00:23:44,339 Even movies that hit b-- 665 00:23:44,382 --> 00:23:47,142 -Um, the one we did, "Not Easily Broken." -Mm-hmm. 666 00:23:47,177 --> 00:23:49,007 This Parisian came out and was like, 667 00:23:49,054 --> 00:23:50,684 "Please, Taraji. Sign, sign." 668 00:23:50,722 --> 00:23:52,312 I said, "What? How you...? 669 00:23:52,349 --> 00:23:53,849 This didn't even go to many theaters." 670 00:23:53,892 --> 00:23:55,602 -But he had it there. -Mm-hmm. 671 00:23:55,643 --> 00:23:57,103 They had it in China when I went. 672 00:23:57,145 --> 00:23:59,355 It's like, so, somebody's been lying to me. 673 00:23:59,397 --> 00:24:02,027 That's why I applaud you and I look up to you, 674 00:24:02,067 --> 00:24:03,777 because you didn't listen. 675 00:24:03,818 --> 00:24:05,448 -You said, "I'm-a do it myself." -Mm-hmm. 676 00:24:05,487 --> 00:24:08,527 And you went abroad. You took your show abroad. 677 00:24:08,573 --> 00:24:11,203 And that's what it takes. It takes, um-- 678 00:24:11,242 --> 00:24:13,622 for us especially, um... 679 00:24:13,661 --> 00:24:15,371 This has always been our struggle. 680 00:24:15,413 --> 00:24:17,793 -We're always fighting against everything. -Mm-hmm. Mm-hmm. 681 00:24:17,832 --> 00:24:20,212 You know, trying to rise above that thumb 682 00:24:20,251 --> 00:24:22,501 -that constantly stays on us, you know. -Mm-hmm. 683 00:24:22,545 --> 00:24:24,415 And I just applaud you for that. 684 00:24:24,464 --> 00:24:26,054 I'm just so proud of you, okay? 685 00:24:26,091 --> 00:24:28,221 I know you-- I'm here to talk to you, but I'm-- You... 686 00:24:28,259 --> 00:24:32,009 I'm so effing proud of you, you know. 687 00:24:32,055 --> 00:24:35,055 And I feel like, I mean, I just watched the whole thing. 688 00:24:35,100 --> 00:24:37,560 I just never forget-- We were on a plane going somewhere. 689 00:24:37,602 --> 00:24:40,732 -People don't understand how-how we're connected, though. -Yeah. 690 00:24:40,772 --> 00:24:43,232 -Right? They-they-- And they're not supposed to. -No, no, no. 691 00:24:43,274 --> 00:24:45,744 They don't know the connective tissue between you and I. 692 00:24:45,777 --> 00:24:48,407 But to give you a little background on it, 693 00:24:48,446 --> 00:24:50,066 you know, "Not Easily Broken..." 694 00:24:50,115 --> 00:24:53,945 -Mm-hmm. -That was a big deal for me. 695 00:24:53,993 --> 00:24:55,543 -Me, too! -That was... 696 00:24:55,578 --> 00:24:57,908 I-I know it was a big deal for you, but I'm saying, 697 00:24:57,956 --> 00:25:00,746 -at that point in my career... -Mm-hmm. 698 00:25:00,792 --> 00:25:03,252 -I needed substance. I needed... -Yep. 699 00:25:03,294 --> 00:25:06,514 I needed movies that were "credible." 700 00:25:06,548 --> 00:25:09,508 -Mm-hmm. -I needed credible actors and actresses 701 00:25:09,551 --> 00:25:11,641 that I could stand alongside. 702 00:25:11,678 --> 00:25:13,468 And I remember me and Morris, 703 00:25:13,513 --> 00:25:14,933 you know, me and Morris were cool. 704 00:25:14,973 --> 00:25:16,933 And he approached me about a project-- 705 00:25:16,975 --> 00:25:18,685 it was when I first met Clint Culpepper. 706 00:25:18,727 --> 00:25:21,687 He was like, "Taraji, man. It's gonna be me and Taraji. 707 00:25:21,730 --> 00:25:23,860 It's a big one." And I remember... 708 00:25:23,898 --> 00:25:27,028 I remember my mindset about Taraji. 709 00:25:27,068 --> 00:25:28,608 Oh, my God. This is dope. 710 00:25:28,653 --> 00:25:30,613 Taraji's... She's about-- 711 00:25:30,655 --> 00:25:31,775 -It's-it's there. -(chuckles): Oh. 712 00:25:31,823 --> 00:25:33,743 -And Morris was that guy. -Mm-hmm. 713 00:25:33,783 --> 00:25:35,413 And I'm like, "This is great." 714 00:25:35,452 --> 00:25:37,292 And that movie, for me, 715 00:25:37,328 --> 00:25:40,958 it-it acted as a big step for me, mentally, 716 00:25:40,999 --> 00:25:43,129 "Yeah, I'm doing the right thing." 717 00:25:43,168 --> 00:25:45,048 "Think Like a Man," to me, was it. 718 00:25:45,086 --> 00:25:46,626 Like, I was like, "Look at us." 719 00:25:46,671 --> 00:25:50,091 I was just-- I sat back and was like, "Look at us." 720 00:25:50,133 --> 00:25:51,723 You can't write a better... 721 00:25:51,760 --> 00:25:53,430 you can't write a better story. 722 00:25:53,470 --> 00:25:55,970 But the first one, you were still like on a... 723 00:25:56,014 --> 00:25:57,224 -Was still coming up. -Coming up. 724 00:25:57,265 --> 00:25:58,845 But then the second one, they was like, 725 00:25:58,892 --> 00:26:00,522 "Um, Kevin gonna get paid more than everybody." 726 00:26:00,560 --> 00:26:03,310 Okay. (laughs) 727 00:26:03,355 --> 00:26:04,605 (chuckles) I was like, 728 00:26:04,647 --> 00:26:07,647 "What this little motherfucker talking about?" 729 00:26:07,692 --> 00:26:09,902 * * 730 00:26:17,243 --> 00:26:19,293 * * 731 00:26:21,748 --> 00:26:23,378 I want to talk to you now... 732 00:26:23,416 --> 00:26:27,546 You know, you're-you're... you're in the-the world of, 733 00:26:27,587 --> 00:26:29,627 uh, somm, can we get a... 734 00:26:29,673 --> 00:26:31,843 (stammers) D, please. 735 00:26:31,883 --> 00:26:33,933 I was trying to be subtle. 736 00:26:33,968 --> 00:26:36,098 I told you T gonna run through two bottles. 737 00:26:36,137 --> 00:26:37,427 -(laughs) -Goddamn it. Let me keep up. 738 00:26:37,472 --> 00:26:39,022 And whatever-whatever we don't drink, 739 00:26:39,057 --> 00:26:40,267 (whispering): just put it in my trailer. 740 00:26:40,308 --> 00:26:41,888 -I got you. -All right. Thank you. 741 00:26:41,935 --> 00:26:43,765 -He doesn't... -I'll take a little bit, too. 742 00:26:43,812 --> 00:26:45,402 -A little? -No, I mean... 743 00:26:45,438 --> 00:26:46,938 Well, it's-- nothing's a little bit in that big glass. 744 00:26:46,981 --> 00:26:48,231 Well, this is the thing, I have a big glass, 745 00:26:48,274 --> 00:26:51,074 because it's-- it looks-- Shut up, Taraji. 746 00:26:51,111 --> 00:26:53,111 -(laughs) -Okay? Thank you. -Very welcome. 747 00:26:53,154 --> 00:26:54,914 All right, just be quiet, uh... 748 00:26:54,948 --> 00:26:56,568 let's talk about, you know, now. 749 00:26:56,616 --> 00:27:00,076 So this-this monster of "Empire" has grown. 750 00:27:00,120 --> 00:27:03,750 It's huge. Oh, my God. The show's a massive hit. 751 00:27:03,790 --> 00:27:07,090 You guys are in season... you know, I-I don't know what. 752 00:27:07,127 --> 00:27:08,707 Let's just say the height of it. 753 00:27:08,753 --> 00:27:11,093 -Let's say mid-season three, and it's gone. -Mm-hmm. 754 00:27:11,131 --> 00:27:15,511 Um, where are you at within your creative then? 755 00:27:15,552 --> 00:27:17,892 Like, you were discussing getting behind the lens. 756 00:27:17,929 --> 00:27:20,269 -Mm-hmm. -You were discussing projects that you were behind, 757 00:27:20,306 --> 00:27:22,766 that you were developing. Did that happen then? 758 00:27:22,809 --> 00:27:25,269 Like, did that spark the want to want to do it more? 759 00:27:25,311 --> 00:27:27,021 -Or-or was it a little before? -Uh, yeah. 760 00:27:27,063 --> 00:27:28,823 -'Cause I got-- Now I'm on the inside. -Mm-hmm. 761 00:27:28,857 --> 00:27:30,977 -And now they listen to me. -Mm-hmm. 762 00:27:31,026 --> 00:27:33,026 They hear me. I'm making changes in the script. 763 00:27:33,069 --> 00:27:34,239 -Like, "This ain't gonna work." -Mm-hmm. 764 00:27:34,279 --> 00:27:35,699 "You can't do that to Cookie. 765 00:27:35,739 --> 00:27:38,069 "You-you already got people-- She's the hero. 766 00:27:38,116 --> 00:27:39,946 If you do that, we're gonna lose the audience." 767 00:27:39,993 --> 00:27:41,543 Like, I started doing that. 768 00:27:41,578 --> 00:27:43,288 -I was like, "Hmm. I feel good about this." -Mm-hmm. 769 00:27:43,329 --> 00:27:46,959 Then, um, directing producer Sanaa Hamri, 770 00:27:47,000 --> 00:27:49,630 she started noticing what I was doing. 771 00:27:49,669 --> 00:27:51,629 She said, "You know, you need to direct." 772 00:27:51,671 --> 00:27:54,551 And I was like, "Eh, I don't-- Eh. Y'all don't sleep." 773 00:27:54,591 --> 00:27:57,261 (laughs): "I need to go home and go to bed." 774 00:27:57,302 --> 00:27:59,352 And she was like, "Okay, you know, 775 00:27:59,387 --> 00:28:01,177 but I'm just saying. You got the eye." 776 00:28:01,222 --> 00:28:03,982 You know, I kept getting it from the first AD, you know. 777 00:28:04,017 --> 00:28:06,517 All kinds of stuff. So finally, sixth season. 778 00:28:06,561 --> 00:28:09,151 And I was like, "If not now, when?" 779 00:28:09,189 --> 00:28:11,819 Like, you know, I'm sure I'll do another television show, 780 00:28:11,858 --> 00:28:14,068 but, like, who knows when that'll be. 781 00:28:14,110 --> 00:28:15,860 And if I'm gonna direct and get my feet wet, 782 00:28:15,904 --> 00:28:17,744 -I have to do it now. -Why not? 783 00:28:17,781 --> 00:28:19,661 -I'm in love. -I'm protected. I'm in this... 784 00:28:19,699 --> 00:28:21,869 -I want it. I want more. -Really? 785 00:28:21,910 --> 00:28:23,500 I'm in the Directors Guild. 786 00:28:23,536 --> 00:28:25,326 Why? Tell me, tell me what you love the most about it. 787 00:28:25,372 --> 00:28:28,122 I love-- You know what, my favorite is casting, 788 00:28:28,166 --> 00:28:30,036 'cause I have a eye. 789 00:28:30,085 --> 00:28:34,005 I have an eye. I-I just do. 790 00:28:34,047 --> 00:28:37,837 And I understand actors. 791 00:28:37,884 --> 00:28:41,354 I think my most proudest moment was I was directing, um, 792 00:28:41,388 --> 00:28:44,268 uh, one of the actors on our, on, um, "Empire" 793 00:28:44,307 --> 00:28:46,477 from my episode, and it wasn't, like, a major role. 794 00:28:46,518 --> 00:28:48,348 He was, like, a detective or a cop, 795 00:28:48,395 --> 00:28:51,265 and I knew the look, you know, cops. Um... 796 00:28:51,314 --> 00:28:53,864 This one guy came in, and he was out of breath. 797 00:28:53,900 --> 00:28:55,650 He was like... (pants) And he looked all nervous. 798 00:28:55,694 --> 00:28:58,364 His hands were shaking, and I knew he was nervous, 799 00:28:58,405 --> 00:29:01,115 'cause I was in the room, and it's "Empire" and all the feels. 800 00:29:01,157 --> 00:29:03,237 -Mm-hmm. -And I saw it, and I... 801 00:29:03,284 --> 00:29:05,914 He started and-and it wasn't the best read the first time. 802 00:29:05,954 --> 00:29:07,664 And I said, "Slow down." 803 00:29:07,706 --> 00:29:09,246 I said, "W-Why are you breathing heavy? 804 00:29:09,290 --> 00:29:10,750 What happened? What's wrong?" 805 00:29:10,792 --> 00:29:14,382 Oh, my God, Kevin, you have bugs on your, on your... 806 00:29:14,421 --> 00:29:15,761 -All right. -You have bugs. 807 00:29:15,797 --> 00:29:17,217 -Okay. That's just... -Okay? 808 00:29:17,257 --> 00:29:19,967 -Exterminator! I'm sorry. -Stop it. That's not... 809 00:29:20,010 --> 00:29:22,140 (laughs) 810 00:29:22,178 --> 00:29:24,138 He almost flew in my mouth. I almost gagged. 811 00:29:24,180 --> 00:29:28,060 Okay. Anyway, so I go, "What happened?" 812 00:29:28,101 --> 00:29:29,851 (chuckles) He has bugs. 813 00:29:29,894 --> 00:29:31,354 I'm sorry. He has bugs. 814 00:29:31,396 --> 00:29:34,816 -Um, I should have worn my mask. -Just stop. Okay. 815 00:29:34,858 --> 00:29:36,148 Okay. 816 00:29:36,192 --> 00:29:37,572 (takes deep breath) 817 00:29:37,610 --> 00:29:39,240 -The cop, you told the cop. -(chuckles) 818 00:29:39,279 --> 00:29:40,909 You wanted him to calm down. He's flustered. 819 00:29:40,947 --> 00:29:42,867 I wanted-- He told me that he left his picture in the car, 820 00:29:42,907 --> 00:29:45,537 and he ran back to the car. He didn't want to be late. 821 00:29:45,577 --> 00:29:47,247 I said, (exhales) "Leave that alone. 822 00:29:47,287 --> 00:29:48,747 "I don't even care about that. 823 00:29:48,788 --> 00:29:50,538 I just want you to do your best. Start over." 824 00:29:50,582 --> 00:29:52,672 -Mm-hmm. -He nailed it, and I hired him. 825 00:29:52,709 --> 00:29:54,249 -You know how to communicate. -I just know... 826 00:29:54,294 --> 00:29:56,344 You feel like your-your dialogue 827 00:29:56,379 --> 00:29:58,919 with-with your actors and actresses is on point. 828 00:29:58,965 --> 00:30:00,215 Because that's where you come from? 829 00:30:00,258 --> 00:30:02,218 -'Cause you've done it? -Yeah, I just... 830 00:30:02,260 --> 00:30:04,600 When you study theater, I have to build a set, 831 00:30:04,637 --> 00:30:06,807 strike a set, direct, write a play, 832 00:30:06,848 --> 00:30:10,478 -produce a play, direct a play. -Talk your shit, T. Talk your shit, T. 833 00:30:10,518 --> 00:30:13,228 I mean, I have to learn how to do wigs, hair, makeup. 834 00:30:13,271 --> 00:30:15,771 So it's like, you got to learn every aspect of it. 835 00:30:15,815 --> 00:30:17,685 Oh, that's why I'm such a huge crew person. 836 00:30:17,734 --> 00:30:19,614 That's when I come on sets, I speak to everybody, 837 00:30:19,652 --> 00:30:22,242 because it's not-- We-we need a crew. 838 00:30:22,280 --> 00:30:24,070 You know, a director is... 839 00:30:24,115 --> 00:30:26,485 -That's-that's the captain of the ship. -Captain of the ship. 840 00:30:26,534 --> 00:30:29,664 But, you know, you forget to tap into the understanding 841 00:30:29,704 --> 00:30:33,294 -that the director understands everybody's job. -Everybody's job. 842 00:30:33,333 --> 00:30:35,923 And everybody that's there is there 843 00:30:35,960 --> 00:30:37,420 to better service the director. 844 00:30:37,462 --> 00:30:40,132 -How do we help make your day... -Mm-hmm. 845 00:30:40,173 --> 00:30:41,803 ...as good as we possibly can? 846 00:30:41,841 --> 00:30:43,301 And in return, how do I get you home early? 847 00:30:43,343 --> 00:30:44,973 How do you do...? That's so good. 848 00:30:45,011 --> 00:30:46,681 -For making my day good. -That's so good. 849 00:30:46,721 --> 00:30:49,431 You know, so, that's be-- that's from theater, though. 850 00:30:49,474 --> 00:30:51,314 Because I had to play every position. 851 00:30:51,351 --> 00:30:54,561 So, I-I'm respectful of everybody's position. 852 00:30:54,604 --> 00:30:56,314 I'm not the actress that gets on set 853 00:30:56,356 --> 00:30:58,856 and try to change the dialogue because I don't know 854 00:30:58,900 --> 00:31:01,360 -what the writer means. That's my job. -Mm-hmm. 855 00:31:01,403 --> 00:31:02,613 My job is to figure out 856 00:31:02,654 --> 00:31:04,574 why the character says it like this. 857 00:31:04,614 --> 00:31:07,494 I know if I change the words, it'll be easier for me. 858 00:31:07,534 --> 00:31:09,584 But that's not Taraji P. Henson. 859 00:31:09,619 --> 00:31:11,449 -That's a whole 'nother character. -It's a character. Mm-hmm. 860 00:31:11,496 --> 00:31:14,916 You know? And, um, those are the things that come with, 861 00:31:14,958 --> 00:31:16,328 when you're trained, you know. 862 00:31:16,376 --> 00:31:17,496 How many, how many episodes did you direct? 863 00:31:17,544 --> 00:31:19,304 -Just one. -Just one? 864 00:31:19,337 --> 00:31:21,167 -But I have a movie I'm about to direct. -Really? 865 00:31:21,214 --> 00:31:22,674 -Yes. -Get out of here, T. 866 00:31:22,716 --> 00:31:25,086 Direct, just-- Are you hired as the director, 867 00:31:25,135 --> 00:31:27,675 -did you develop, produce it? -I'm hired as the director. 868 00:31:27,721 --> 00:31:30,771 Um, it's a feature film, coming of age, 869 00:31:30,807 --> 00:31:33,267 Black, "young girl," coming of age-- 870 00:31:33,309 --> 00:31:34,769 which I've never seen that. 871 00:31:34,811 --> 00:31:36,861 -When I grew up, I had Molly Ringwald. -Okay. 872 00:31:36,896 --> 00:31:39,686 And I identified with Molly because she was poor, 873 00:31:39,733 --> 00:31:42,033 -and she came from a single-family home. -Mm-hmm. 874 00:31:42,068 --> 00:31:44,398 But she was still white. (chuckles) 875 00:31:44,446 --> 00:31:47,066 But I've never seen a coming of age 876 00:31:47,115 --> 00:31:49,115 that looked like me. 877 00:31:49,159 --> 00:31:51,329 -So here we come. -Congrats. 878 00:31:51,369 --> 00:31:52,659 I'm so excited. 879 00:31:52,704 --> 00:31:54,754 * * 880 00:32:05,633 --> 00:32:07,643 * * 881 00:32:10,013 --> 00:32:13,813 Do you feel like you've done all that you want to do 882 00:32:13,850 --> 00:32:15,480 as far as being on-screen, 883 00:32:15,518 --> 00:32:17,018 or there's still things left 884 00:32:17,062 --> 00:32:18,522 -that you want to do? -There's still things left. 885 00:32:18,563 --> 00:32:19,733 'Cause you-you've definitely checked 886 00:32:19,773 --> 00:32:21,483 -a lot of boxes. I mean... -Mm-hmm. 887 00:32:21,524 --> 00:32:23,904 And, by checked a lot of boxes, you've shown your range. 888 00:32:23,943 --> 00:32:26,283 -Yeah. -You've shown that, you know, 889 00:32:26,321 --> 00:32:29,281 TP is-is not just a one-note actress. 890 00:32:29,324 --> 00:32:30,664 I'm not so edgy after all. 891 00:32:30,700 --> 00:32:32,160 -Huh? Huh? -No, no, no, no. 892 00:32:32,202 --> 00:32:33,752 -TP has levels. Levels... -Well, I am edgy, 893 00:32:33,787 --> 00:32:34,787 but not in my work. 894 00:32:34,829 --> 00:32:36,499 -Levels on levels. -Clean it up. 895 00:32:36,539 --> 00:32:38,329 -Yeah, you know what I mean. -You are. Levels on-- 896 00:32:38,375 --> 00:32:39,745 -No. You absolutely are. -Uh, listen to him. Don't listen to me. 897 00:32:39,793 --> 00:32:42,253 You're absolutely levels on levels. 898 00:32:42,295 --> 00:32:43,795 Uh, and, I mean, look, that display... 899 00:32:43,838 --> 00:32:46,218 Thank you, Kevin. I really appreciate that. 900 00:32:46,257 --> 00:32:47,587 Well, I'm not just saying it to say it. 901 00:32:47,634 --> 00:32:49,224 I'm saying it because I mean it. 902 00:32:49,260 --> 00:32:51,470 Another question. How'd you feel about your Oscar nomination 903 00:32:51,513 --> 00:32:52,563 for "Benjamin Button?" 904 00:32:52,597 --> 00:32:54,057 I mean, when that hit, 905 00:32:54,099 --> 00:32:55,769 that's a different ball game. 906 00:32:55,809 --> 00:32:58,399 That throws you into a different stratosphere. 907 00:32:59,312 --> 00:33:00,812 My nomination meant, 908 00:33:00,855 --> 00:33:03,265 -I guess people were paying attention. -Mm-hmm. 909 00:33:03,316 --> 00:33:05,486 I'm like, "Okay, they know who I am." 910 00:33:05,527 --> 00:33:07,147 -Mm-hmm. -So... 911 00:33:07,195 --> 00:33:09,565 In that category with the other actresses that were in it. 912 00:33:09,614 --> 00:33:11,664 I mean, I was just, I was just so happy 913 00:33:11,700 --> 00:33:14,040 that me and Viola was nominated together. I felt... 914 00:33:14,077 --> 00:33:15,657 (stammers) It just felt good. 915 00:33:15,704 --> 00:33:17,124 KEVIN: That's massive. 916 00:33:17,163 --> 00:33:18,793 TARAJI: It felt good for me, 917 00:33:18,832 --> 00:33:20,752 because I'm always thinking about the younger generation. 918 00:33:20,792 --> 00:33:22,962 -Mm-hmm. -The imagery of that. 919 00:33:23,003 --> 00:33:26,593 Because I grew up-- We always know one... 920 00:33:26,631 --> 00:33:29,341 -Mm-hmm. It's very true. -...you know, one of us. 921 00:33:29,384 --> 00:33:31,144 And it might be just one woman, 922 00:33:31,177 --> 00:33:33,427 -and it might be just a man, you know? -That's very true. 923 00:33:33,471 --> 00:33:36,271 So just the imagery of two, 924 00:33:36,307 --> 00:33:38,387 that, to me, I was so proud. 925 00:33:38,435 --> 00:33:40,055 -That's dope as hell. -Yeah. 926 00:33:40,103 --> 00:33:43,023 You're-you're now a advocate for mental health. 927 00:33:43,064 --> 00:33:44,864 -What does that mean, when you say you're an advocate? -Yes. 928 00:33:44,899 --> 00:33:47,189 Like, what are you, what are you doing? What are you...? 929 00:33:47,235 --> 00:33:50,655 Okay. So I have a, um, mental health organization 930 00:33:50,697 --> 00:33:53,487 that I started called the Boris Lawrence Henson Foundation. 931 00:33:53,533 --> 00:33:54,913 -Okay. -And it's named after my father, 932 00:33:54,951 --> 00:33:57,581 who was a Vietnam vet who suffered from PTSD 933 00:33:57,620 --> 00:33:59,870 and also manic depression. 934 00:33:59,914 --> 00:34:02,004 Uh, bipolar. 935 00:34:02,042 --> 00:34:04,792 I started the foundation because when I was looking 936 00:34:04,836 --> 00:34:08,376 for a therapist, for myself and my son, it was hard. 937 00:34:08,423 --> 00:34:09,843 -Mm-hmm. -Called my best friend, 938 00:34:09,883 --> 00:34:11,803 who runs my foundation, Tracie Jenkins. 939 00:34:11,843 --> 00:34:13,803 Oh, you never, you know, you never made that donation, 940 00:34:13,845 --> 00:34:15,715 but we'll get back to that. So, anyway, um... 941 00:34:15,764 --> 00:34:17,394 but I'm on your show, and I do everything you ask me to. 942 00:34:17,432 --> 00:34:18,892 But that's okay, I'll get back to that. 943 00:34:18,933 --> 00:34:20,693 -Shit. -So anyway, so I did the foundation. 944 00:34:20,727 --> 00:34:22,477 -I remember calling you. I was in Chicago. -Goddamn it. 945 00:34:22,520 --> 00:34:24,150 -Here we go. -And I said, "Hey, are you gonna give it?" 946 00:34:24,189 --> 00:34:26,069 You were like, "Yeah, I'm-a give you all this..." 947 00:34:26,107 --> 00:34:27,777 -Here we go. -This is how I handle it. This is how I handle it. 948 00:34:27,817 --> 00:34:29,317 -And it never got handled. -Here we go. What did I-- 949 00:34:29,361 --> 00:34:30,401 How much did I say I was gonna give, T? 950 00:34:30,445 --> 00:34:32,905 -What did I...? -100,000. 951 00:34:32,947 --> 00:34:34,067 Why would you ask? 952 00:34:34,115 --> 00:34:35,525 You better be glad I ain't say a million, 953 00:34:35,575 --> 00:34:36,945 'cause I know you got it. 954 00:34:36,993 --> 00:34:38,753 Taraji, whatever you need from me, you can have it. 955 00:34:38,787 --> 00:34:40,537 -A million. No, I'm joking. -No. 956 00:34:40,580 --> 00:34:44,130 -(laughing): He said "no." -No. No. (laughs) 957 00:34:44,167 --> 00:34:45,417 I backpedaled, didn't I? 958 00:34:45,460 --> 00:34:46,750 T, whatever you need. A million? 959 00:34:46,795 --> 00:34:48,585 -No. I will not... -Okay. 100,000. 960 00:34:48,630 --> 00:34:50,260 -I will give you $100,000. -Did you hear this? 961 00:34:50,298 --> 00:34:52,718 -I'm saying it on the show. I can't go back. -Okay. 962 00:34:52,759 --> 00:34:54,549 I made you double it, 'cause at first you said 50. 963 00:34:54,594 --> 00:34:57,354 -But... Okay. -I-I can't go back. You have $100,000 from me. 964 00:34:57,389 --> 00:34:59,059 It's for a good cause, though, Kevin. 965 00:34:59,099 --> 00:35:00,769 -Seriously. -I'm telling you, you have $100,000 from me. 966 00:35:00,809 --> 00:35:01,979 I'm dead serious. 967 00:35:02,018 --> 00:35:04,768 But so I started it because I knew that... 968 00:35:04,813 --> 00:35:08,443 I was having an issue trying to find a therapist. 969 00:35:08,483 --> 00:35:10,283 I'm privileged. I have money. 970 00:35:10,318 --> 00:35:13,278 -Imagine all the millions of people of color... -That don't... 971 00:35:13,321 --> 00:35:16,741 ...that can't-- But, not even don't, we don't talk about it. 972 00:35:16,783 --> 00:35:19,493 Like, it's frowned upon in our, in our community, 973 00:35:19,536 --> 00:35:21,286 in our culture, for some reason. 974 00:35:21,329 --> 00:35:23,419 And I don't, I don't know why, uh, 975 00:35:23,456 --> 00:35:26,706 -but it's-it's looked at as, "What? You in...?" -Weak. 976 00:35:26,751 --> 00:35:29,751 -Weakness. Weakness. -"Come on. Come on. Get your, get your ass out... 977 00:35:29,796 --> 00:35:32,086 What? You're doing...?" It's never... 978 00:35:32,132 --> 00:35:35,142 it's never truly supported from the jump. 979 00:35:35,176 --> 00:35:36,586 -Well... -It's never supported 980 00:35:36,636 --> 00:35:38,256 from the beginning of the curiosity. 981 00:35:38,304 --> 00:35:39,974 -It's deep for us. -Mm-hmm. 982 00:35:40,015 --> 00:35:43,265 Uh, you're talking about over 400 years of oppression. 983 00:35:43,309 --> 00:35:44,889 So you're talking about trauma 984 00:35:44,936 --> 00:35:47,056 that Black people have learned to "normalize." 985 00:35:47,105 --> 00:35:49,515 -Mm-hmm. -Okay? We've been doing it for over 400 years. 986 00:35:49,566 --> 00:35:51,646 -Mm-hmm. -"Normalizing trauma." 987 00:35:51,693 --> 00:35:54,153 I just found out that hush puppies, 988 00:35:54,195 --> 00:35:56,565 hush puppies, 989 00:35:56,614 --> 00:35:59,494 were actually used by runaway slaves 990 00:35:59,534 --> 00:36:00,994 to keep the dogs off of them. 991 00:36:01,036 --> 00:36:02,996 "Hush, puppies." 992 00:36:03,038 --> 00:36:04,578 And we've normalized it. 993 00:36:04,622 --> 00:36:06,212 See, these are things that we've normalized. 994 00:36:06,249 --> 00:36:08,839 So imagine all the other things we've normalized. 995 00:36:08,877 --> 00:36:11,497 -Mm-hmm. Mm-hmm. -Trying to be strong, push through. 996 00:36:11,546 --> 00:36:14,836 The strength is in vulnerability. 997 00:36:14,883 --> 00:36:19,393 The strength is in saying, "I'm not okay today." 998 00:36:19,429 --> 00:36:23,849 That's the strength. The danger is trying to push through. 999 00:36:23,892 --> 00:36:27,602 The danger is continuing to cope 1000 00:36:27,645 --> 00:36:32,185 with all of this compounded trauma 1001 00:36:32,233 --> 00:36:37,363 that we have ensued and continue to endure. 1002 00:36:37,405 --> 00:36:39,695 We just got another hashtag. 1003 00:36:39,741 --> 00:36:42,331 I mean, your kids aren't driving yet, 1004 00:36:42,369 --> 00:36:44,369 -but, Kevin, when they do... -Mm-hmm. 1005 00:36:44,412 --> 00:36:46,212 Your-- The fear that you will feel 1006 00:36:46,247 --> 00:36:47,957 every time your child leaves the house... 1007 00:36:47,999 --> 00:36:49,709 -Mm-hmm. -Because they're not gonna know 1008 00:36:49,751 --> 00:36:52,301 -that that's Kevin Hart's child. -Yeah. 1009 00:36:52,337 --> 00:36:53,837 -They're not, they're not protected at that point. -They don't know. 1010 00:36:53,880 --> 00:36:55,880 -You know what I'm saying? -Yeah. Yeah. 1011 00:36:55,924 --> 00:36:59,054 It's real fair. It's real-- You-you speak... 1012 00:36:59,094 --> 00:37:00,644 Constant state of trauma. 1013 00:37:00,679 --> 00:37:03,219 You speak no lies. I mean, it's-it's... 1014 00:37:03,264 --> 00:37:05,564 it's insane to hear you speak the way that you speak 1015 00:37:05,600 --> 00:37:08,810 because it's... it's eye-opening to me. 1016 00:37:08,853 --> 00:37:11,313 Look, I can't say it enough... 1017 00:37:11,356 --> 00:37:13,106 I love you. 1018 00:37:13,149 --> 00:37:16,239 -And, you know, I don't know if and when... -Okay. I'm sorry. 1019 00:37:16,277 --> 00:37:17,737 -I'm trying to be... -Okay. That's not-- Come on. 1020 00:37:17,779 --> 00:37:19,239 -I'm trying-- I-I... -It's just... 1021 00:37:19,280 --> 00:37:20,820 -It's one gnat. It's one gnat. -I-I love you. Okay. 1022 00:37:20,865 --> 00:37:22,235 I don't know. I think he has friends. 1023 00:37:22,283 --> 00:37:24,793 But it's not, it's not like it's a lot. Don't... 1024 00:37:24,828 --> 00:37:26,248 I-I'm trying to be serious, 1025 00:37:26,287 --> 00:37:28,077 -and every time the gnat is... -But it's not-- 1026 00:37:28,123 --> 00:37:29,833 -It's one gnat. -And I don't want people to be like, 1027 00:37:29,874 --> 00:37:31,504 -"Why is she doing that? She's..." -It's one gnat, 1028 00:37:31,543 --> 00:37:33,753 and I'll kill it. Don't... 1029 00:37:33,795 --> 00:37:35,375 Okay. I'm sorry, Kevin. 1030 00:37:35,422 --> 00:37:37,762 I'm in the moment. I told you, I'm very in the moment. 1031 00:37:37,799 --> 00:37:39,259 Okay. Don't do that again. 1032 00:37:39,300 --> 00:37:40,680 -And I want to show people my shoes. -Stop it. 1033 00:37:40,719 --> 00:37:42,759 -Okay? Just stop. -(laughs) 1034 00:37:42,804 --> 00:37:45,354 You spoke, you spoke about theater. 1035 00:37:45,390 --> 00:37:46,930 And I'll say my last part again. 1036 00:37:46,975 --> 00:37:48,765 I meant what I said, just that I love you. 1037 00:37:48,810 --> 00:37:50,730 -And genuinely, I'm-I'm... -I love you, too, Kevin. You know that. 1038 00:37:50,770 --> 00:37:52,770 I want to make sure that... 1039 00:37:52,814 --> 00:37:55,284 I'm available, if ever needed. 1040 00:37:55,316 --> 00:37:57,436 Well, answer the fucking phone when I call. 1041 00:37:57,485 --> 00:37:59,065 -(chuckles) -Okay. Now, listen... 1042 00:37:59,112 --> 00:38:00,612 I call. I text. 1043 00:38:00,655 --> 00:38:02,025 I wasn't gonna put you on blast. 1044 00:38:02,073 --> 00:38:03,873 You, that's his camera? Look at me. 1045 00:38:03,908 --> 00:38:06,288 Okay. All right. That's not... Just look at your camera. 1046 00:38:06,327 --> 00:38:08,707 -Okay. I don't know. I like all cameras. -Get out of my camera. 1047 00:38:08,747 --> 00:38:10,457 Uh, you're right, though. 1048 00:38:10,498 --> 00:38:12,498 -And I will make sure of that, if and when. -(chuckles) 1049 00:38:12,542 --> 00:38:13,842 But-but... 1050 00:38:13,877 --> 00:38:15,747 -I do. -You do call-- Uh, let me stop. 1051 00:38:15,795 --> 00:38:17,665 -I do answer when you call. -'Cause he does, he does. He does. He does. 1052 00:38:17,714 --> 00:38:18,974 It's not like you call a lot, but if you do, 1053 00:38:19,007 --> 00:38:20,627 -I do answer. -(chuckles) 1054 00:38:20,675 --> 00:38:22,135 But that's why I don't call a lot. 1055 00:38:22,177 --> 00:38:23,847 'Cause you better answer when I call, 1056 00:38:23,887 --> 00:38:26,307 -because I don't call a lot. -I-I understand. 1057 00:38:26,348 --> 00:38:28,558 * * 1058 00:38:38,443 --> 00:38:40,703 * * 1059 00:38:42,906 --> 00:38:45,026 How are you with breaks after work? 1060 00:38:45,075 --> 00:38:47,195 -Are you a consistent...? -Yeah. 1061 00:38:47,243 --> 00:38:49,583 -Da, da, da, da, da, da, da, da, da, da. -Da, da, da, da, da, da, da, da. 1062 00:38:49,621 --> 00:38:51,541 Let me tell you. 1063 00:38:51,581 --> 00:38:53,791 I almost died one year. 1064 00:38:53,833 --> 00:38:56,213 I did Cookie. 1065 00:38:56,252 --> 00:38:57,712 I did-- I left-- 1066 00:38:57,754 --> 00:39:00,054 We finished Cookie for the season. 1067 00:39:00,090 --> 00:39:03,050 I went to do "Proud Mary" right away, which was action. 1068 00:39:03,093 --> 00:39:05,393 -Mm-hmm. -And then I went straight to Atlanta 1069 00:39:05,428 --> 00:39:09,388 to do another civil rights, uh, Ann Atwater. 1070 00:39:09,432 --> 00:39:11,432 So totally different... 1071 00:39:11,476 --> 00:39:13,896 I mean, Cookie, 1072 00:39:13,937 --> 00:39:16,817 a killer and a civil rights activist. 1073 00:39:16,856 --> 00:39:19,726 Then I had to go right back to Cookie. 1074 00:39:19,776 --> 00:39:21,736 -No break. -No break at all. 1075 00:39:21,778 --> 00:39:24,278 -I almost died. I was in the hospital. -Mentally draining, physical... 1076 00:39:24,322 --> 00:39:26,372 Eh. I wasn't taking care of myself and my stomach. 1077 00:39:26,408 --> 00:39:28,578 I had stomach issues. I was on my way to stomach cancer. 1078 00:39:28,618 --> 00:39:30,248 -What? -The doctor was like, 1079 00:39:30,286 --> 00:39:31,866 "If you don't stop doing what you're doing, 1080 00:39:31,913 --> 00:39:34,253 "you're gonna get stomach ulcers, 1081 00:39:34,290 --> 00:39:36,540 which is then gonna lead to stomach cancer." 1082 00:39:36,584 --> 00:39:38,254 My makeup artist, my hairdresser 1083 00:39:38,294 --> 00:39:40,384 and my security were in the hospital. 1084 00:39:40,422 --> 00:39:42,802 But they had to smuggle me in the hospital. 1085 00:39:42,841 --> 00:39:44,221 I passed out on set. 1086 00:39:44,259 --> 00:39:45,799 I was like, "I can't. I have to go." 1087 00:39:45,844 --> 00:39:47,264 -What? -It was bad. 1088 00:39:47,303 --> 00:39:49,433 I was eating up the lining of my stomach. 1089 00:39:49,472 --> 00:39:51,852 It was horrible. Horrible. Horrible, horrible. 1090 00:39:51,891 --> 00:39:53,981 -During which project? -It was all my life-- 1091 00:39:54,019 --> 00:39:57,269 drinking coffee on an empty stomach, every morning. 1092 00:39:57,313 --> 00:39:59,823 You know, just things started catching up. 1093 00:39:59,858 --> 00:40:02,608 And, um... 1094 00:40:02,652 --> 00:40:05,112 I never called out for work. 1095 00:40:05,155 --> 00:40:06,605 I'm sure you haven't either, Kevin. 1096 00:40:06,656 --> 00:40:08,116 Nobody-nobody ever knew? 1097 00:40:08,158 --> 00:40:09,738 Did anybody-- does anybody know? 1098 00:40:09,784 --> 00:40:11,624 I talked about it on "Dr. Oz." 1099 00:40:11,661 --> 00:40:13,121 I was a little vocal about it. 1100 00:40:13,163 --> 00:40:14,963 'Cause I didn't want anybody to ever go through 1101 00:40:14,998 --> 00:40:17,918 what I went through, and so, um... 1102 00:40:17,959 --> 00:40:21,299 (chuckles): It is scary stuff, all that. 1103 00:40:21,338 --> 00:40:24,718 And I'll just never forget. I had to change everything. 1104 00:40:24,758 --> 00:40:26,298 I had-- 1105 00:40:26,343 --> 00:40:28,303 And whatever the doctors were giving me wasn't working. 1106 00:40:28,345 --> 00:40:30,175 So I had to go to a holistic doctor. 1107 00:40:30,221 --> 00:40:33,481 And she ended up-- I literally was eating baby food. 1108 00:40:33,516 --> 00:40:34,886 I had lost so much weight. 1109 00:40:34,934 --> 00:40:38,104 There is a picture of me when I went to the NAACP. 1110 00:40:38,146 --> 00:40:40,356 You can see my bones right here. 1111 00:40:40,398 --> 00:40:43,488 I had lost-- I couldn't hold down water, Kevin. 1112 00:40:43,526 --> 00:40:47,196 Kevin, I was in Monte Carlo doing press for "Empire." 1113 00:40:47,238 --> 00:40:48,818 I was going... 1114 00:40:48,865 --> 00:40:51,485 In between interviews, I was throwing up. 1115 00:40:51,534 --> 00:40:53,584 I'm a workhorse, so I don't know how to stop. 1116 00:40:53,620 --> 00:40:56,210 And you know, our industry, you can't just call off. 1117 00:40:56,247 --> 00:40:58,457 -You can't just call off. -Goddamn. 1118 00:40:58,500 --> 00:41:01,840 So, I was in the bed with wires and everything. 1119 00:41:01,878 --> 00:41:03,508 And I remember coming to, and I was like, 1120 00:41:03,546 --> 00:41:05,716 I looked at the time, I was like, "I got to go to work." 1121 00:41:05,757 --> 00:41:07,337 And my makeup artist was like, 1122 00:41:07,384 --> 00:41:08,844 "If you don't lay your ass back down..." 1123 00:41:08,885 --> 00:41:10,175 And she went to get the doctor. 1124 00:41:10,220 --> 00:41:11,810 And the doctor had to come in there to say, 1125 00:41:11,846 --> 00:41:13,176 "You can't go to work." 1126 00:41:13,223 --> 00:41:15,103 I was thinking about my crew. 1127 00:41:15,141 --> 00:41:18,021 I was like, "No, no, the crew. We can't take off. 1128 00:41:18,061 --> 00:41:19,901 I don't have that kind of job." And he was like, 1129 00:41:19,938 --> 00:41:22,018 "You won't ever work again 1130 00:41:22,065 --> 00:41:25,025 if you don't take it easy on yourself." 1131 00:41:25,068 --> 00:41:28,608 So, you know, when this pandemic happened, 1132 00:41:28,655 --> 00:41:30,405 at first, I was like... (groans). 1133 00:41:30,448 --> 00:41:32,408 But then I was like, 1134 00:41:32,450 --> 00:41:34,910 -"Heed the message." Like, "You need it." -Sit down. 1135 00:41:34,953 --> 00:41:37,793 -I was not going to-- I don't know how to sit down. -Sit down. 1136 00:41:37,831 --> 00:41:39,711 -I'm listening. -Like... 1137 00:41:39,749 --> 00:41:41,379 -I'm not, I'm not-- I-I swear to you. -We're not getting any younger. 1138 00:41:41,418 --> 00:41:43,838 I got ten years on you, but still, like, 1139 00:41:43,878 --> 00:41:45,258 I'm telling you, this is when that, 1140 00:41:45,296 --> 00:41:47,126 all of that hard work will catch up. 1141 00:41:47,173 --> 00:41:50,263 -I swear to you. I'm listening. -Did you, were you...? 1142 00:41:50,301 --> 00:41:52,141 You the only person that didn't stop working 1143 00:41:52,178 --> 00:41:54,428 in the pandemic-- you and Octavia. 1144 00:41:54,472 --> 00:41:56,602 (laughs) 1145 00:41:58,101 --> 00:42:00,981 -I'm laughing, I'm laughing, -You know, I haven't acted in over a year? 1146 00:42:01,021 --> 00:42:02,731 -but it's-it's true, yeah. -But it's okay. 1147 00:42:02,772 --> 00:42:06,482 I-I know exactly where I am and why I am where I am. 1148 00:42:06,526 --> 00:42:09,566 I sit in front of you, across from you, 1149 00:42:09,612 --> 00:42:11,162 as a friend, as a brother, 1150 00:42:11,197 --> 00:42:16,367 but as a, as a, like, a real... a real, like, 1151 00:42:16,411 --> 00:42:20,581 a real fucking person in your life, right? 1152 00:42:20,623 --> 00:42:23,843 And this conversation today is a great one. 1153 00:42:23,877 --> 00:42:26,457 It's open dialogue, but it's one where I've learned 1154 00:42:26,504 --> 00:42:29,264 so much more about my sister-- things that I've known, 1155 00:42:29,299 --> 00:42:31,429 things that I didn't know, things that you went through 1156 00:42:31,468 --> 00:42:32,928 that I had no idea about. 1157 00:42:32,969 --> 00:42:35,929 But I get the message that you have... 1158 00:42:35,972 --> 00:42:38,812 you've basically delivered a message that... 1159 00:42:38,850 --> 00:42:41,230 -it wasn't the plan today. -Mm-mmm. 1160 00:42:41,269 --> 00:42:42,599 And it's one based off of the experiences. 1161 00:42:42,645 --> 00:42:44,555 But I knew what I was coming to say to you. 1162 00:42:44,606 --> 00:42:47,936 -I'm-I'm... I'm telling you now, I-I hear you. -(chuckles) 1163 00:42:47,984 --> 00:42:49,904 -Yeah. -I hear you. I love you. 1164 00:42:49,944 --> 00:42:51,534 I appreciate you. 1165 00:42:51,571 --> 00:42:53,531 -And this was everything it was supposed to be. -Yeah. 1166 00:42:53,573 --> 00:42:55,333 -Just take care of yourself, Kevin. Please. -I promise you. 1167 00:42:55,367 --> 00:42:57,617 -I promise you, I will. -Okay. 1168 00:42:57,660 --> 00:42:59,830 -Old dirty D.C. -(laughs) 1169 00:42:59,871 --> 00:43:01,621 Taraji P., I love you. 1170 00:43:01,664 --> 00:43:03,254 -I love you to death. -I love you more, baby. 1171 00:43:03,291 --> 00:43:04,831 Thank you so much for coming on, man. 1172 00:43:04,876 --> 00:43:06,496 -Taraji P... -When we gonna be in a movie together? 1173 00:43:06,544 --> 00:43:08,804 Hold up! Let me get him to say something else. 1174 00:43:08,838 --> 00:43:10,628 Stop. Keep it going. 1175 00:43:10,674 --> 00:43:12,804 -Don't nobody... -When are we doing a movie, Kevin? 1176 00:43:12,842 --> 00:43:14,932 -Guys, don't let her do this. This is what she does. -Kevin. Kevin! 1177 00:43:14,969 --> 00:43:16,929 -Yes, Taraji. -Wait, I want to go to Budapest. 1178 00:43:16,971 --> 00:43:18,561 Okay, Taraji. Well, you can't... 1179 00:43:18,598 --> 00:43:20,308 What's happening in Budapest? I'm going. 1180 00:43:20,350 --> 00:43:22,640 -Kevin, I'm coming. -No. No. You can't... 1181 00:43:22,686 --> 00:43:24,226 What if I popped up in Budapest like... 1182 00:43:24,270 --> 00:43:26,310 -(laughs) -You can't go to Budapest, okay? 1183 00:43:26,356 --> 00:43:28,016 -Why? -Because we're already doing that... 1184 00:43:28,066 --> 00:43:29,316 Did you hire a white woman? 1185 00:43:29,359 --> 00:43:31,529 No. Taraji, you can't say this. 1186 00:43:31,569 --> 00:43:32,949 We-- Edit that out. 1187 00:43:32,987 --> 00:43:34,407 -(upbeat music plays) -We'll-- Taraji, no. 1188 00:43:34,447 --> 00:43:35,867 (whispers): It's a action... I told you I'm... 1189 00:43:35,907 --> 00:43:37,527 (whispers): It's an action movie? 1190 00:43:37,575 --> 00:43:39,325 -I know how to do action, Kevin. -Oh, no, uh, don't do it. 1191 00:43:39,369 --> 00:43:40,909 Cut that out. Is she showing her stuff? 1192 00:43:40,954 --> 00:43:42,584 No! I got pants on! 1193 00:43:42,622 --> 00:43:43,832 Okay, don't let her do that. 1194 00:43:43,873 --> 00:43:45,463 -Blur that out. This is my show. -(laughs) 1195 00:43:45,500 --> 00:43:47,130 I'll protect you. I'll protect you 1196 00:43:47,168 --> 00:43:48,458 -on "Hart to Heart." -(laughing) 1197 00:43:48,503 --> 00:43:50,553 * * 1198 00:43:51,297 --> 00:43:52,967 Today's anecdote is very simple. 1199 00:43:53,008 --> 00:43:54,508 Life is like an ocean-- 1200 00:43:54,551 --> 00:43:55,721 there's waves everywhere. 1201 00:43:55,760 --> 00:43:58,600 What I'm saying is, sit down in the chair, 1202 00:43:58,638 --> 00:44:00,178 unless you want to get bit. 1203 00:44:00,223 --> 00:44:01,773 (chuckles) Think about it. 1204 00:44:01,808 --> 00:44:01,928 Think about it. Huh? That's what I'm talking about. 1205 00:44:01,978 --> 00:44:06,528 Repair and Synchronization by Easy Subtitles Synchronizer 1.0.0.0 96894

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