Taraji P. Henson Was Only Paid Around $40K For "Benjamin Button" Role

[Big Boss]

Her roles have become staples in pop culture and in 2009, Taraji P. Henson nabbed herself a coveted Academy Awards nomination for her role in the hit film, The Curious Case of Benjamin Button. The movie starred Brad Pitt, Cate Blanchett, Tilda Swinton, Mahershala Ali, and many other notable names that helped it become an unforgettable cinematic journey. It made Henson an Oscars contender and although she was praised for her addition to the story, the actress recently revealed that she was paid much less than her fellow performers.


During her appearance on Ladies First with Laura Brown, Taraji shared that while Pitt and Blanchett received millions to star in the film, she was only paid around $40K—much less than what she initially asked. "I felt like what I was asking, at that time of my career, was fair to the ticket sales that I would contribute to this big film. [The studio] wouldn't do it... and then I was gutted." Now, Taraji knows her worth and what her talents can contribute to a project.

Elsewhere, the actress also spoke about the "strong Black woman" stigma and how that label can be detrimental. "I understand why we took that on, Black women being the bottom of the totem pole, never being seen," she said. "I understand, but it's when others go, 'Yes, strong Black woman!' and then it dismisses us... Then if my child or somebody I know is gunned down in the streets, I'm supposed to be strong through that? I'm not allowed to be angry? I'm not allowed to be pissed off?"

"I can't say because you've taken everything from me. I'm not allowed to feel that? I'm just supposed to be strong?" She feels similarly about the term "Black girl magic." She said, "I'm not a fairy. I get it. It's sweet, but baby, I'm not a fairy. I don't have magic dust." Listen to her episode below.





Taraji P. Henson Was Only Paid Around $40K For "Benjamin Button" Role

 

[ORDER_66]

I mean she was BARELY in the movie tho... 40K is alot of money for that little amount of screentime...

 

[EBK String]

These actors are actresses are really starving out here.

 

[T’Challa’s Heir]

This story is worthless without knowing how much she asked for. And I feel like she had less than 20 minutes of screen time.

 

[Luke Cage]

I didn't even know she was in that movie.

 

[T’Challa’s Heir]

These actors are actresses are really starving out here.

40k for what was probably less than 3 weeks of filming isn’t really starving.

 

[Ducktales]

I’ll probably get Neged and that’s cool, but at that time I had only seen her before in hustle and flow. She would obviously get paid more now, but that’s hindsight

 

[The Intergalactic Koala]

And she was one of the best parts of the movie and I think she won awards for her role.
Hollywood really ain't shyt

 

[King]

I’ll probably get Neged and that’s cool, but at that time I had only seen her before in hustle and flow. She would obviously get paid more now, but that’s hindsight

Sohh you’re admitting that you’ve never seen Baby Boy then, Kyle

 

[Ukbrotha]

I didnt like the movie to be honest and I barely remember her in it. Only seen it once though.

 

[EBK String]

40k for what was probably less than 3 weeks of filming isn’t really starving.

Most are lucky to get 1 film a year and it isn't a big budget film like Benjamin Budget. They have to be making like 5k for a smaller budget film unless they are a major star.

 

[shopthatwrecks]

Better than 300 n a box of frenchies

 

[MikelArteta]

it's not like she exactly julia roberts at that point

and of course brad friggin pitt and cate blanchett would get paid millions they were a listers at that point

 

[Karume]

Her roles have become staples in pop culture and in 2009, Taraji P. Henson nabbed herself a coveted Academy Awards nomination for her role in the hit film, The Curious Case of Benjamin Button. The movie starred Brad Pitt, Cate Blanchett, Tilda Swinton, Mahershala Ali, and many other notable names that helped it become an unforgettable cinematic journey. It made Henson an Oscars contender and although she was praised for her addition to the story, the actress recently revealed that she was paid much less than her fellow performers.


During her appearance on Ladies First with Laura Brown, Taraji shared that while Pitt and Blanchett received millions to star in the film, she was only paid around $40K—much less than what she initially asked. "I felt like what I was asking, at that time of my career, was fair to the ticket sales that I would contribute to this big film. [The studio] wouldn't do it... and then I was gutted." Now, Taraji knows her worth and what her talents can contribute to a project.

Elsewhere, the actress also spoke about the "strong Black woman" stigma and how that label can be detrimental. "I understand why we took that on, Black women being the bottom of the totem pole, never being seen," she said. "I understand, but it's when others go, 'Yes, strong Black woman!' and then it dismisses us... Then if my child or somebody I know is gunned down in the streets, I'm supposed to be strong through that? I'm not allowed to be angry? I'm not allowed to be pissed off?"

"I can't say because you've taken everything from me. I'm not allowed to feel that? I'm just supposed to be strong?" She feels similarly about the term "Black girl magic." She said, "I'm not a fairy. I get it. It's sweet, but baby, I'm not a fairy. I don't have magic dust." Listen to her episode below.





Taraji P. Henson Was Only Paid Around $40K For "Benjamin Button" Role

waste of thread space

 

[Scottie Drippin]

Not abnormal. Non-prestige actors typically take big paycuts to get into roles.

Jonah Hill did Wolf of Wallstreet for the SAG minimum. McConaughey did all those indie movies that flipped him from a romcom star to serious artist before True Detective completed the transition for basically nothing.

You're gambling that a serious dramatic turn in a critical darling will up your value and open you up to more afterwards.