Taraji P. Henson: I came from nothing, was deprived all my life, so when you get money, you go big! + See Her Harper’s Bazaar Spread!

Her favorite Cookie outfit so far:

Alaïa black catsuit, hands down. I’ve even worn some of my own stuff, like my Balmain leather. I have to meet [Balmain designer] Olivier Rousteing; I need to be his friend.

How she became more chic with time:

It took me a minute to get on the chic bus. I was coming from the era of Lil’ Kim and Mary J. Blige, you know, ghetto fabulous. I came from nothing, was deprived all my life, so when you get money, you go big!

Keeping everything, including outfits she’s worn to win roles:

One day I’ll be famous enough or important enough where people will want my shit like Elizabeth Taylor’s.

When people meet her, if they expect Cookie:

But I’m a woman now; I have a kid [son Marcell] who’s 21. I’m not sensationalized; I’m not all into the celebrity. This is a job. I love what I do, but I am clear it is a job.

Former friends now attempting to come into her life:

Oh, they are coming out of the woodwork.…My son is very in tune with that. My dad said to him, ‘People are going to try to be your friend because of what your mother does.’ That stuck. Even guys who try to be a mentor to him—because, you know, his father was murdered when Marcell was nine—so I was very particular about not dating. I don’t want to just bring a man around. Marcell knows how to gauge, Are you here for me, or do you like my mother?

Photos: Harper’s Bazaar

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