Oscar nominee Taraji P. Henson joined couple Halle Berry and Gabriel Aubry for dinner at Mr. Chow restaurant in Beverly Hills last night.



Halle opened up about her relationship with Calvin Klein model Gabriel who she has a 9-month-old daugher Nahla with to Essence magazine (March 2009/ Hollywood Special Edition).

On dating a White man: “I tried Black men. I tried,” she wails in a mock southern accent. “I married two Black men. You know I tried.” She laughs again before making clear that “I don’t hold all Black males responsible because of the two bad eggs I got. I even dated Black men after my last divorce, but this is just where I found love.”

On her longevity in Hollywood: “Setbacks energize me. They make me realize that I have more work to do.”

On being a mom: “I thought I knew love before, but I never knew anything like this.”

On going bald for a role: “I am shaving it off,” she says. “I know. Here comes the controversy, but I have to do it for the role and it will grow back - I hope.”

Essence magazine recently announce plans to host a luncheon honoring Halle and Taraji during Oscar Week 2009. (Congrats!) Click here for details.

Labels: Halle Berry, Newsstand Snapshots, Out and About, Romance Hoopla, Taraji P. Henson

Oscar nominees Viola Davis (Doubt) and Taraji P. Henson (Curious Case of Benjamin Button) have been spotted at various industry events looking like they stepped off the runway.



Slumdog Millionaire actress Freida Pinto also looked hip and fab at the 61st Annual DGA Awards. Love that Zac Posen one shoulder sequin dress.



Viola just signed on to appear in the psychological thriller Law Abiding Citizen with Regina Hall and Jamie Foxx according to EURWEB. (Congrats Viola, Freida, and Taraji for the well-deserved Oscar hoopla!)

Labels: Blair Underwood, Box Office Hoopla, Freida Pinto, Taraji P. Henson, Viola Davis

Taraji P. Henson had a private dinner celebration for her Oscar nomination at Mastro's Steakhouse. Close friends Sanaa Lathan, Nia Long, John Singleton, and her Baby Boy co-star Tyrese showed her support at the small gathering.



Pregnant Kimora Lee supported her equally happy boyfriend Djimon Hounsou's Push movie premiere last night in Westwood, Californina. Kimora and Djimon are engaged and this baby would be Djimon's first...congrats! Kimora's divorce from Russell Simmons is final.

Labels: Box Office Hoopla, Djimon Hounsou, Kimora Lee Simmons, Nia Long, Sanaa Lathan, Taraji P. Henson, Tyrese/Black-Ty

Meagan Good (in Christian Louboutin Forever Tina fringe boots) was spotted outside My Club House in L.A. last night. Those boots are quite popular in Hollywood...and Meagan loves it!



Taraji P. Henson and Freida Pinto attended the 20th Annual Producers Guild Awards. Taraji (Oscar nominee) mixed it up in black and white while Freida (Slumdog Millionaire actress) opted for a beige classic look. These two are definitely the underdogs for the exciting awards season.




Speaking of...
Taraji and Britney were both caught in this Black Halo ruffle sheath dress but which lady had the look on lock?



Pre-Oscar buzz Taraji was first spotted in this LBD with nude Christian Louboutin platforms at the L.A. premiere of "Eagle Eye" back in September. (Thanks Marleaux!)

The "If U Seek Amy" singer (Britney) was later seen in this fitted dress at her older brother Bryan's wedding earlier this month with a gold cross Fragments necklace and black pumps.

Hmm...Wedding vs a movie premiere event?! This may be just as hard as the last face off.

Labels: Award Hoopla, Britney Spears, Fashion Hoopla, Look on Lock, Meagan Good, Taraji P. Henson

Taraji P. Henson had her first interview after getting her Best Supporting Actress Oscar nomination (The Curious Case of Benjamin Button) on CBS "The Early Show" this morning. She seemed so humble in the interview. Hard work does paid off. Check it out...




Taraji on how she got the good news:

Henson says she was asleep when she got the word she'd been nominated. "I was asleep," she says. "I was comatose. ... I have a great group of friends, and they knew that I was gonna to be angst. And they took me out the night before for a fabulous dinner. And then we went out for music and dancing just so I could have a light night and not think about it. And the tactic worked, because I got home. I was wiped out. And I was knocked out."

Then her manager called at 5:30, "and I knew it had to be good news.'Cause what idiot would call me at 5:30 with bad news?!"

Henson says she hadn't even mulled winning. "I couldn't go there yet. I was still dealing with, 'Wow! A dream has come true!' Because that's every actor's dream. When you say, 'I want to be an actor,' everybody thinks about Old Oscar." [CBS News]

UPDATE: Extra caught up with Taraji as well post-Oscar nod.



I liked how she and her friends took the edge off the night before. Congrats to Taraji!

Labels: Box Office Hoopla, Taraji P. Henson, TV Hoopla

Taraji P. Henson secured her first ever Oscar nomination for role in "The Curious Case of Benjamin Button." (Taraji picked up the Best Supporting Actress in A Motion Role nod. Remember her from "Baby Boy" or "The Family That Preys"?!) The film lead Academy Awards nominations with 13 nods according to The Huffington Post. I thought Queenie (Taraji's on-screen character) was the heart of the film...and Clutch magazine concurred. Congrats to Taraji!



Check out Taraji's interview with Black Tree Media about her role as Brad Pitt (Benjamin Button)'s on-screen mother Queenie.


Read the full 2009 Academy Awards nominations here. The 80th Annual Academy Awards with host Hugh Jackman will air live on ABC on February 22nd.

Labels: Box Office Hoopla, Taraji P. Henson

The 66th Annual Golden Globes Awards kicked off moments ago in Beverly Hills. The late actor Heath Ledger won Best Supporting Actor for his role as The Joker in The Dark Knight. Indie favorite Slumdog Millionaire (with Freida Pinto) picked up Best Screenplay. Click HERE for all the winners.



Jennifer Lopez sparked divorce rumors because she didn't wear her (wedding ring) with her draped Marchesa dress. (Maybe the bling didn't match her fab dress??!) Beyonce (who came with husband Jay-Z) didn't walk away with any Golden Globe this year but she looked great in that strapless Elie Saab dress. My best dressed pick went to Eva Mendes in Dior. See more of what they wore over at MRSGRAPEVINE. Who looked great or who gave it their best shot?

Labels: America Ferrera, Award Hoopla, Beyonce Knowles, Blair Underwood, Brad Pitt, Eva Longoria, Eva Mendes, Heidi Klum, J.Lo, Seal, Taraji P. Henson

The 14th Annual VH1 Critics' Choice Award was held on Thursday January 8th with Taraji P Henson, Angela Bassett, Brad Pitt, Angelina Jolie, Freida Pinto (go rent Slumdog Millionaire), Eva Longoria Parker, Ludacris, and Common in attendance. Taraji was my best dressed pick of the night.



Slumdog Millionaire won Best Picture. Anne Hathaway (Bride Wars) and Sean Penn (Milk)picked up Best Actor/Best Actress awards. Tune into VH1 (or HERE) to check out all the winners.

Labels: Angela Bassett, Award Hoopla, Brad Pitt, Common, Eva Longoria, Ludacris, Taraji P. Henson

Oprah Winfrey addressed her weight battle in the January 2009 edition of her magazine - O, The Oprah Magazine. And I quote Lady O herself, "How did I let this happen again? I'm mad at myself. I’m embarrassed. I can’t believe that after all these years, I’m still talking about my weight." [source: Yahoo News] Oprah has since contributed her weight gain to her out-of-balance thyroid which caused her to go from 160 to 200 pounds.



Taraji P. Henson teamed up with Morris Chestnut in the new film, "Not Easily Broken" (due out January 2009). Based on the best-seller novel by T.D Jakes, the film centered around when the couple's faith gets tested after the wife (Henson) is injured in a car crash and the husband (Chestnut) subsequently finds other women attractive. (Thanks Singersroom Celebs!) Do expect appearances by Kevin Hart, Jenifer Lewis, Eddie Cibrian, and Jakes himself. The trailer is interesting...and so would you go see this film?

Labels: Box Office Hoopla, Morris Chestnut, Newsstand Snapshots, Oprah, Taraji P. Henson

Check out the video premiere for Jamie Foxx's new single, "Just Like Me" featuring T.I. Taraji P. Henson (of the upcoming film "The Curious Case of Benjamin Button") plays Jamie's on-screen girlfriend. The hilarious video was directed by Brett Ratner and it shows Taraji and Jamie competiting with one another from golf to comedy. LOL at that hot dog eating contest!



UPDATE: Taraji talked why she decided to show her comedic side while filming the video to Black Voices. Jamie Foxx's new album, "Intuition" drops on December 16th.

Labels: Jamie Foxx, Music Hoopla, T.I, Taraji P. Henson, Video Hoopla

Taraji P. Henson, Tia Mowry and her husband Cory Hardrict attended the Hollywood Film Festival last night. (Thanks Sade!)



Ashanti and boyfriend Nelly attended the 5th anniversary celebration of "Wicked" on Broadway last night. I love those black studded Gucci Fall 2008 boots Ashanti has on with the black dress. (And yes Keyshia Cole and Cassie wore the same Gucci Babouski high-heel boots not too long ago!)




Check out Ashanti's Rock The Vote PSA...

Raven-Symone used her celebrity platform to bring awareness at the National Loss for Lyrics Song Contest in Los Angeles. On her feet are Yves Saint Laurent platform pull-on boots. You gotta love the blue interior of the boots - even Jennifer Lopez was spotted in the ankle verison during NY Fashion Week. If you noticed, the runway style has a yellow interior.



Serena Williams, Kris Jenner, Jennifer Hudson, and Raven were all seen in this purple Alice + Olivia Wool jersey belted dress ($385/ $395) but which lady pulled off the look best?

Labels: Ashanti, Cassie, Fashion Hoopla, J.Lo, Jennifer Hudson, Keyshia Cole, Nelly, Out and About, Raven Symone, Serena Williams, Taraji P. Henson, Tia Mowry