(Continued)

What was your favorite memory or moment from the making of "Hustle & Flow?"

There are so many! Every memory, every moment. We just had so much fun. I mean every day was like going to a big party. It wasn't like going to work. I just remember, my biggest memory, is when I had some down time and they wanted to send me back to L.A. because they could save some money on the hotel and all that and I really did need to get back for just a minute. But I really did not want to go. No one wanted me to go. Everybody was like, "Taraji, please stay!" But John was like, 'she's going back to L.A.' Because he was the one cutting the checks.

And so, I have this amazing picture of DJ Qualls actually crying, in tears. Because he didn't want me to go. "We need you! Don't leave!" (Laughs). So I came home, back to L.A., for a week. And the whole time I was here, I could not get my head out of Memphis. I called every day. 'What are ya'll doin'? What's going on?' And it was then that I realized that we created this tight knit family.

I read that you have a strong passion for helping disabled and less fortunate children.

Yes, well the one thing I make a point of doing is a 5-K walk for Shane's Inspiration, for physically and mentally challenged children. And they build playgrounds equipped with things they can you, like you can hook up a wheel chair to a merry-go-round and that sort of thing. So I do that every year and I donate to that every year.

Right before I booked "Baby Boy," I hadn't been working consistently. It's like a crapshoot trying to get a guest spot here, get a guest spot there. So, I started substitute teaching. And I was one of the only ones who volunteered to go to this special ed school because there were special ed children. But then I thought, special education means physically or mentally challenged children. And the first school they sent me to was in the hood. Not one wheelchair, not one disabled child! And what I found disturbing was that all of these children were capable of learning, but it was the situation at home that prevented them to enforce the rules. No one to make sure they were doing their homework. Poor neighborhood and they couldn't buy paper or pencils.

So I got really frustrated with that. They threw me basically in this stock room full of boxes and said this is your class. I went in gung ho, took money out of my pocket, went to Staples and bought visually stimulating stuff to put up on the walls. And then, at 11 o'clock while I'm teaching the class, a big old train would come through the back yard for 20-30 minutes and you couldn't hear a thing. And I thought, how are these children going to learn anything? Does anybody care?

And so, I have this amazing script that my manager and I are going to produce. And it's basically dealing with that, to bring the issue to the forefront. It's a comedy, but has so many lessons in it without hitting you over the head with the message.

Who inspires you outside of the industry?

Outside of the industry, my inspiration comes from my son. He's my rock. I don't know where I would be without him. He just keeps me so focused. And he's such a beautiful, good little child. I couldn't have asked for a better child. He's a good little boy.

I also have a great network of friends. And they don't even live here. They're friends that I've had since I was in the 7th grade. My best friends. I have two friends that I met when I was in college and we're still very close. All in all, I have five core girlfriends that stick really close to me. Everybody's always asking me how I stay so grounded and I tell them - it's because I've had the same friends since I was a kid.

They keep you grounded for sure.

Totally keep me grounded. But it's not like they have to do much work because at the end of the day, what I do is just a job. So I don't even take it seriously. I mean I take what I do seriously, but I don't believe the hype. It's just a job. It just so happens that millions of people get to watch me work. At the end of the day, it's what pays my bills. But I don't expect any kind of special treatment. I don't expect anything because it's just a job!

I recently caught the trailer to "Four Brothers" and it looks great. It looks intense. What can you tell me about the film, the role you play, and what it's like working with John (Singleton) for the 3rd time?

I know! My bank account loves it! (Laughs). We have established a relationship that I think we'll be working together for many years to come. Ever since "Baby Boy," I had such a respect for him and he had such a respect for me. I was offered a job on "Four Brothers," but still had to fight for it a little bit because I knew they had female roles in it. But John said: "You can't play opposite Tyrese again." The problem was, at first Andre 3000 was going to play Tyrese's role. And vice versa. So he said, "let me work out who's going to play what and then I'll have a job for you. Maybe."

But I understood when I got the script and read it because if Tyrese plays this cat, I cannot play opposite him again because it would have been another toxic situation and it wouldn't have been fair to the audience. I don't care if you put a wig on me and whatever but the audience would have looked at it as Jody and Yvette. "Look at Jody and Yvette...they're so cute!" It just wouldn't have been fair to anybody and I understood that.

And then he didn't want to give me the role opposite Andre 3000, which I ended up doing, because he kept saying the role was too small. But I told him, there is no such thing as a small role, only a small actor! (Laughs) So I had to prove that to him. Because the producers at Paramount wanted to cut that role because they didn't understand why Camille Mercer was needed. It's too small. Who cares? But when they watched the dailies, they said, "Oh, my God, she's incredible! We need her!"

So it got to a place where John predicted when he gave me the script: "This is going to be so unfair to the audience because they're going to want more." And I knew they couldn't write anything else because at the end of the day, it was about the four brothers. But I'd rather leave people wanting more than not doing it at all. And so, that's exactly what I accomplished.

And lastly, what do you like to do for fun?

Believe it or not, I lead a very simple life. I like to hang around the house. I love my house, I sit out by the pool, I have an amazing canyon view in the back. And in the living room, I have an amazing view of downtime Glendale. I love to cook. I spend a lot of time with my son, but he's away for the summer spending the summer with his grandfather. So when he goes away, I don't know what to do with myself.

I don't like to hang out in clubs or that sort of thing. I did that when I had a fake I.D. I just pretty much hang out at the house, will call friends over, have them bring some drinks over, throw some food on the grill, hang out by the pool. Very simple. I'm such a homebody. I'm probably the only idiot that dances and jumps up and down when we get our first cold day in the winter because I'm ready to throw a log on the fire and call it a Blockbuster night!

Taraji P. Henson Interview (BACK)