Entertainment

Taraji P. Henson to Play NASA Math Genius in New Film

By
Yesha Callahan
We may earn a commission from links on this page.

Taraji P. Henson is going from Empire to NASA in her upcoming movie role.

Henson will star in Hidden Figures, a movie based on the book Hidden Figures: The Story of the African-American Women Who Helped Win the Space Race, by Margot Lee Shetterly. 

Suggested Reading

Michelle Obama and Kamala Harris Prove That Black Women Aren't Here For the Shenanigans in 2025
It's Time for Dems to Finally ‘Go Low’ Against Mean MAGA Republicans. Here's How
Kamala Refuses To Be Fake With JD Vance, Nancy Mace Spars With Jasmine Crockett At House Meeting, Michelle Obama's Reason For Not Attending Trump Inauguration, The Scary Things Trump Vowed To Do On 'Day 1' And More
Interview With Issa Rae, Keke Palmer and SZA
Subtitles
  • Off
  • English

Suggested Reading

Michelle Obama and Kamala Harris Prove That Black Women Aren't Here For the Shenanigans in 2025
It's Time for Dems to Finally ‘Go Low’ Against Mean MAGA Republicans. Here's How
Kamala Refuses To Be Fake With JD Vance, Nancy Mace Spars With Jasmine Crockett At House Meeting, Michelle Obama's Reason For Not Attending Trump Inauguration, The Scary Things Trump Vowed To Do On 'Day 1' And More
Interview With Issa Rae, Keke Palmer and SZA
Subtitles
  • Off
  • English

Henson will play the role of NASA math genius Katherine Johnson, one of three black women—the other two were colleagues Dorothy Vaughan and Mary Jackson—responsible for helping astronaut John Glenn with his space mission during the 1960s.

Advertisement

Related Content

Cam Newton Gets Surprisingly Candid About Parenting With His Post-NFL Finances
Have You Heard of Kris Kross? These 90s Teen Hip-Hop Stars Endured Fame and Tragedy

Related Content

Cam Newton Gets Surprisingly Candid About Parenting With His Post-NFL Finances
Have You Heard of Kris Kross? These 90s Teen Hip-Hop Stars Endured Fame and Tragedy

Henson's upcoming role is her first big role since winning the Golden Globe Award for best actress in a TV drama series for her work on Empire. There's no word yet on who will star in the roles of Vaughan and Jackson.