These women are taking over late night television, one channel at a time. Leaving a mark in TV history can be difficult and progressing as a female actor in Hollywood can have its setbacks, but these three powerful ladies are inspiring women of all ages and racial backgrounds through their characters on screen and down-to-Earth personalities off screen. Veteran actress Taraji P. Henson of Empire, Gina Rodriguez of Jane the Virgin and Emma Roberts of American Horror Story are the latest cover models for Glamour's October issue, proving females currently run the world, the world of television that is.
Taraji P. Henson might be a new name on the tongues of some, but the Washington D.C. native stole the hearts of millions in her breakthrough role as Yvette in 2001's Baby Boy featuring singer and fellow actor, Tyrese. Not to mention several other box office hits like The Karate Kid, Think Like A Man, No Good Deed and her Oscar-winning films The Curious Case of Benjamin Button and Hustle & Flow. Her career has also blessed her with an extensive role on television with shows like Person of Interest and Boston Legal.
The 40-year-old mother of one is currently drawing in Fox's biggest audience yet with her role as Cookie in the Emmy-nominated hip-hop drama series, Empire. Cookie is the mold that holds everyone together on the show. From her outspoken attitude to the loyalty she shows to her family and cheating ex-husband Lucious Lyons (Terrence Howard), fans couldn't help but fall in love with her character. Henson opened up to Glamour about playing Cookie and the impact she has on others.
On why she thinks people connect so well with Cookie:
"She is everybody's alter ego," said Henson to Glamour. :She crosses cultures. [Last year] we went to Paris and screened the pilot for a thousand people. Lee Daniels [the series' co-creator] brought me onstage. The audience stood up on their feet and clapped. I cried because, for so long in Hollywood, I've been told that black women don't do well overseas, that they can't open a film overseas. That moment for me was the best moment of my life. That's better than any trophy, any award, any nomination. You know how they say music can heal the world? I feel that way about art in general."
On when she feels most like Cookie in real life:
"When I don't feel fear. Fear will cripple you, fear will kill you, fear will make you believe you're not worthy. After 17 years in prison, Cookie feels there is nothing to fear. She made it out alive. In her mind that's how strong she is. We all have that strength inside us. We just have to choose it."
Gina Rodriguez is an actress on the rise looking to not only change the representation of Latinos in today's media, but also interested in altering the way women are treated in today's world. The 31-year-old Chicago native got her taste of fame like many budding actors and actresses, through soap operas and minor roles in television series. Rodriguez has made an appearances on shows like The Bold and the Beautiful, Army Wives and The Mentalist. Her breakout role came in the 2012 musical drama film, Filly Brown. Rodriguez is becoming a household name thanks to her current starring role in Jane the Virgin. The New York University graduate plays Jane, a young girl who's never had sex before but accidentally becomes artificially inseminated during a routine trip to the gynecologist. The show won fans over around the world and even earned her a Golden Globe. In the interview, Rodriguez opened up about the struggles Latinos face in Hollywood and the life lessons she's learned from her character. On the limitations of Latinos in Hollywood: "People say this is a Latino show. But this is just a show that happens to have people with ancestors who come from other countries. None of us wants to be defined anymore. We're human, dude. I feel like I was meant to do something-and nothing about me, genetically, is gonna stop me from doing that. Jane feels the same way." On the life lessons she learned from Jane: "She's taught me that you can be many different things at once. Yeah, she doesn't have sex, but she's not uncool. She ain't two pounds, but she's sexy. And playing a character who realizes she has no control over her future helped me understand my journey. I didn't get discovered right out of college the way I thought I was going to. It was like, 'OK, this dream isn't looking the way I thought it was going to look.' I had to learn to let go and have faith. I had to learn to let go and have faith."
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Emma Roberts has been acting since she was a child and based on the success streak she's been having with television and movies, it doesn't look like she'll be retiring any time soon. The 24-year-old niece to beloved actress Julia Roberts received her breakout role alongside Johnny Depp in Blow. She went on to star in her own TV show on Nickelodeon called Unfabulous and films like We're the Millers, Twelve and Nancy Drew.
American Horror Story had everyone hooked on Roberts' leading roles in the series, from her attitude to her style of dress, Roberts was a fan favorite. The actress even began dating her co-star, Evan Peters, on the freaky series. As she gears up for season five of the disturbing, but addicting series, the New York native also prepares for the upcoming release of her newest drama series Scream Queens. The horror-comedy focuses on a slew of murders surrounding the sorority she heads. While discussing her new character and what she learned on set, Roberts also revealed what aspect of friendship matters the most to her and why she's loving life right now.
On what she values most in a friendship:
"To me loyalty is the biggest thing. My best friends are the kind of girls who, if I have something important to do, will come over and help me pick out an outfit while we drink a glass of champagne. My sister is 14, and I'm so protective over her. I tell her that if someone doesn't make her feel good, she doesn't need to be friends with them. I have four friends in the world I can call and tell anything, and that's all I need. In the past year I've done a serious clearing of people who didn't treat me the way a friend should treat you."
On being comfortable in her skin:
"There are a lot of growing pains in your twenties. But every single thing that's happened to me, even the bad stuff, I'm fine with it. If I can give myself credit for anything, it's that I do try to learn from the bad. I've never felt so sure that I'm in the right place doing what I'm supposed to be doing as I am right now."
