Taraji P. Henson Was Offered A Meager $75K For Oscar Nominated Performance In ‘The Curious Case of Benjamin Button’

Taraji P. Henson is reflecting back on her Oscar-nominated role in “The Curious Case of Benjamin Button” that she received a lowball offer for “The Curious Case Of Benjamin Button.” .

Ahead of her performance in “The Color Purple” musical that’s already recieving Oscar buzz, Henson is recalling the 2008 she starred in that earned her first Academy Award nomination. It was 2009 when Henson receiving her first, and only, Oscar nomination for Best Supporting Actress for starring alongside Brad Pitt in 2008’s “Curious Case of Benjamin Button.”

Henson was continuing her climb in Hollywood after her breakout performances in “Baby Boy” and “Hustle & Flow” and came with a reasonable salary request of $500,000 when agreeing to take on the role of Queenie. But despite her success, Henson recalls the drastically lower salary she was offered instead.

“I wasn’t even being greedy,” Henson shared on CBS Sunday Morning. “I knew that I was up and coming, but surely I know that I can make you $500,000 with my fanbase.”

But not only did Henson not receive the amount she asked for, the rising star was offered over $400,000 less than what she requested.

“I was offered [$75,000],” she revealed. “And then, we fought and fought until we got [$150,000].”

While it was nowhere near what she requested or deserved, Henson’s performance earned her a coveted Oscar nomination and helped set the stage for her continued success in films like “Hidden Figures,” “Empire,” and “What Men Want.”

Now, she’s set to amaze audiences with her portrayal of Shug Avery in Winfrey’s musical rendition of the 1985 Oscar-winning original. There’s growing chatter about the movie’s Oscar-worthy results. With names like Henson, Fantasia Barrino, Danielle Brooks, and Colman Domingo on the cast, there’s a strong possibility that someone could walk away with an Academy Award in addition to the film itself.

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