I still like to live some normalcy in my life because of the characters I play. If I remove myself from society so much, then how can I be in touch with these characters? My point is that I’m not some woman who asks for the moon. The whole point is we want to get this movie done in a timely manner with no hiccups and no issues. So wouldn’t that behoove you to have your talent show up safe and unscathed and in one piece.
To some producers that’s a revelatory idea.
Henson: When you’re crunching numbers, I guess people get nervous. That just didn’t make sense to me, and I know this is what you do for other productions. It seems like every time it’s a predominantly Black production, all of a sudden there’s no money, and I’ve been hearing it my entire career.
I’ve said all this before. I wrote a book, for God’s sakes, in 2016. I talked about it on “The View.” I’ve talked about it on national television. I’m not the only one. Look up any woman of color in this industry. She’s said the same thing. I’m tired of us having the same conversation. For whatever reason, everybody wanted to listen this time. But it’s not like I’m saying anything new.
How do you put your words to action going forward, in terms of both your own career and continuing to open doors for others?
Henson: I could have taken a bullet for speaking up. I could’ve been shunned, shut out. I was nervous. But what I do know is the only way you make change is if you speak up, and that’s what I’m here to do, because why else am I doing this? If I’m not making it better for those coming up behind me, then I’m a selfish person. What am I doing it for? I’m standing on the shoulders of my ancestors who took bullets for me to be here. You understand? So what makes me better than my ancestors?
You’ve spoken many times about how you were paid only $150,000 for “Benjamin Button” as the third-billed actress in the film, compared to the half a million you were expecting compared to your co-stars.
Henson: The only person in this industry who’s treated me like I felt I needed to be treated was Tyler Perry. The man gave me my first quote. When I didn’t have a quote, and when they did me how they did me on “Benjamin,” I had no power. I saw the bigger picture later. Years later, my quote quadrupled. Tyler Perry had another movie for me to star in, “Acrimony.” When I’m fighting, I’m fighting just to get what I got the last time. I’m not even fighting for a raise. Each and every time I go into negotiations, and it’s like, you know what I got paid the last time. Why are you acting like I’m going to take less? That’s what I mean. It’s insulting and it hurts my freaking feelings. When Tyler Perry came in, he said I know you’re not worth $500,000 now, but what is your quote now? He paid it right up. He sent his private jet. He made sure I had a driver and security the entire time.
