Celebrating Taraji P. Henson’s 50th Birthday with 5 Great Video Clips!

The talented Taraji P. Henson turns 50 today (Sept. 11)!

Did you know the “Empire” star wasn’t always looking to be an actress? She originally attended the University of the District Columbia, as well as North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University, to be an electrical engineer!

She also has an interesting ancestor– Matthew A. Henson, a famous explorer who helped discovered the North Pole!

Watch clips from some of our favorite Henson shows and films and view some great photos below!

• IMDb LIVE After The Emmys 2018

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  LOS ANGELES, CA - SEPTEMBER 17: Actor Taraji P. Henson attends the 70th Annual Primetime Emmy Awards at Microsoft Theater on September 17, 2018 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Rich Polk/Getty Images for IMDb)

• 48th NAACP Image Awards – Show

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  PASADENA, CA - FEBRUARY 11: (L-R) Actresses Taraji P. Henson, Janelle Monáe, and Octavia Spencer accept award for Outstanding Motion Picture onstage at the 48th NAACP Image Awards at Pasadena Civic Auditorium on February 11, 2017 in Pasadena, California. (Photo by Frederick M. Brown/Getty Images )

• 2017 Summer TCA Tour – Day 15

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  BEVERLY HILLS, CA - AUGUST 08: (L-R) Actors Jussie Smollett, Terrence Howard, Taraji P. Henson, Co-Creator/Writer/Executive Producer Lee Daniels, and Executive Producers Sanaa Hamri and Ilene Chaiken of 'Empire' speak onstage during the FOX portion of the 2017 Summer Television Critics Association Press Tour at The Beverly Hilton Hotel on August 8, 2017 in Beverly Hills, California. (Photo by Frederick M. Brown/Getty Images)
• Premiere Of Disney’s “Ralph Breaks The Internet” – Red Carpet

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  (Photo by Kevork Djansezian/Getty Images)

• 2015 Summer TCA Tour – Day 10

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  BEVERLY HILLS, CA - AUGUST 06: Actress Taraji P. Henson speaks onstage during the 'Empire' panel discussion at the FOX portion of the 2015 Summer TCA Tour at The Beverly Hilton Hotel on August 6, 2015 in Beverly Hills, California. (Photo by Frederick M. Brown/Getty Images)

• “The Best Of Enemies” New York Premiere

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  NEW YORK, NEW YORK - APRIL 04: Taraji p. Henson attend "The Best Of Enemies" New York Premiere at AMC Loews Lincoln Square on April 04, 2019 in New York City. (Photo by Jamie McCarthy/Getty Images)
• 8th Annual Breakthrough Prize Ceremony – Arrivals

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  MOUNTAIN VIEW, CALIFORNIA - NOVEMBER 03: Taraji P. Henson attends the 8th Annual Breakthrough Prize Ceremony at NASA Ames Research Center on November 03, 2019 in Mountain View, California. (Photo by Rich Fury/Getty Images)