Emmy Award nominee Taraji P. Henson says it was bittersweet to be nominated alongside HTGAWM star Viola Davis in the Outstanding Actress on a Drama Series category, at the 67th Primetime Emmy Awards, which aired on Sunday, Sept19. Davis walked away with the win, but Henson, realizing that a black woman has never won in that catergory, told Ellen DeGeneres on her talk show, she prayed "Lord just let one of us win."
The Empire actress was nominated in the catergory along with Davis, Claire Danes; Tatiana Maslany, Elisabeth Moss and Robin Wright. EUR reported In a Tuesday episode of The Ellen DeGeneres show, the actress spoke with the talk show host about being nominated for her role as the feisty Cookie, whom Henson says is her spirit animal, and allows her to say the things that she could never get away with.
Ellen expressed how unbelivable it is to realize that Davis is only the first black woman to win an Emmy in this category. Henson responded, "It's 2015 we have a black president and no black woman has ever won in this catergory." She explains how in the process of thinking about her nomination, along with the othe women who were nominated, it no longer became just about her. She wanted history to be made and said a special prayer.
"God please give it to one of us so we will never have to say that again." She explained adding that everyone wants to be a part of history and wants to be important in their community and in society, but the bigger picture was in having barriers broken.
This is the same message the Annalise Keating actress expressed during her acceptance speech at the Emmys 2015. Davis, spoke the names of women like Henson, Kerry Washington, Gabrielle Union and Halle Berry who are all women in prominant television roles, and they are all breaking down barriers.
The NY Times released the full video speech where Davis first quotes Harriet Tubman and references stepping over the line to get to the other side. She then adds, "And to the Taraji P. Hensons, the Kerry Washingtons, the Halle Berrys, the Nicole Beharies, the Meagan Goods, to Gabrielle Union: Thank you for taking us over that line."
Ulitmately, Henson feels that Davis deserved the award and you just have to give people their respect for how long they've been doing what they do. She says, the world needed that speech given by Davis.
