Taraji P Henson Advocates for Transportation for 'The Color Purple' Cast
Taraji P Henson's determination paid off as she advocated for the cast of 'The Color Purple' to have personal drivers instead of rental cars, ensuring their convenience and comfort on set
During the filming of The Color Purple, Taraji P. Henson spoke about the difficulties the cast encountered and her insistence on not driving herself to set in Atlanta due to safety concerns regarding insurance liability.
Henson, who plays Shug Avery in The Color Purple, revealed that she had to request a "driver or security" to take her to set. "I'm not asking for the moon," she stated. "They're saying, 'If we do it for you, we have to do it for everyone.' Well, then do it for everyone! It's things like that, things that I shouldn't have to struggle for."
During a recent Q&A with The Hollywood Reporter on Friday, January 5, actress Danielle Brooks, 34, who plays Sofia in the upcoming 2023 musical, revealed that Taraji P. Henson advocated for the cast to have their own dressing rooms and food during rehearsals. Henson's actions served as a valuable lesson to Brooks as it was her first studio film, showing her the importance of speaking up for oneself.
Fantasia Barrino as Celie and Taraji P. Henson as Shug Avery in “The Color Purple” Warner Bros. Entertainment
Henson has a history of advocating for fair treatment on set, as seen during her time on Fox's Empire from 2015 to 2020. She recounted having to fight for better accommodations during filming, including trailers free from bug infestations. “It wears on your soul because you fight so hard to establish a name for yourself and be respected in this town to no avail,” she expressed to The New York Times.
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Henson has been a vocal supporter of her fellow cast members on set, but she has also been open about the unequal pay in Hollywood. She recently revealed that she almost turned down a role in The Color Purple because of the low pay and had to audition for a role despite being the director's first choice.
During a December 2023 interview with SiriusXM, she expressed her frustration, saying, "I'm tired of working so hard, excelling at my work, and being paid much less than I deserve. It's disheartening to hear other women in the industry express the same concerns. Every time I achieve something significant and break through a barrier, when it comes time to renegotiate, I find myself back at the bottom as if my past accomplishments don't matter. It's exhausting and demoralizing. If I can't fight for the women coming up behind me, then what am I doing?"
