Empire Star Taraji P. Henson Talks Strong Connection With Terrence Howard

The good news is that Empire is returning to the airwaves, but the ‘bad’ news is that this means the final countdown to the fan-favorite series has begun! As such, actors from the show are taking time to reflect on memorable moments from the hit nighttime soap — including its star, Taraji P. Henson.

Taraji P. Henson Talks Terrence Howard

Henson, who plays Cookie, and Terrence Howard, who plays Lucious, have known each other for many years. They brought a pre-existing dynamic to their Empire roles. The two actors both appeared in the 2005 film Hustle & Flow.

When Empire debuted, viewers learned that Cookie had gone to jail for 17 years, returning to Empire Entertainment to reclaim her position in the family company. As viewers of Empire know, the couple has had their share of emotionally-charged scenes over the last five seasons!

“I guess it would have to be the scene where Cookie has to calm Lucious down,” Henson said of what her favorite scene on Empire has been, referring to the time a gun-wielding Lucious was ready to snap. “Terrence and I, we go way back. We understand each other. Sometimes, you don’t get a chance to have that kind of connection with every person you work with.”

Given how passionate Cookie and Lucious can get, Henson says she understands why viewers of the show may question the depth of their commitment to one another. However, the actress maintains, “not only do they love each other, they do in such a deep way that most might not understand it.”

Check out the full video above. Empire returns for its final episodes starting Tuesday, March 3 at 9 p.m.