Taraji P. Henson Was Offered A Meager $75K For Oscar-Nominated Performance In ‘The Curious Case of Benjamin Button’

Taraji P. Henson is reflecting back on the lowball offer she received for "The Curious Case of Benjamin Button."

Taraji P. Henson reflected on her Oscar-nominated role in The Curious Case of Benjamin Button, a movie for which she received a lowball salary offer.

Ahead of her performance in The Color Purple musical that’s already receiving Oscar buzz, Henson recalled the 2008 movie that earned the actress her first, and thus far only, Oscar nomination for Best Supporting Actress: starring alongside Brad Pitt in 2008’s The Curious Case of Benjamin Button.

Henson, who was continuing her climb in Hollywood after breakout performances in Baby Boy and Hustle & Flow, came with a salary request of $500,000 when agreeing to take on the role of Queenie. Despite her success, she received a drastically lower offer instead.

“I wasn’t even being greedy,” Henson shared on CBS Sunday Morning. “I knew that I was up and coming, but surely I know that I can make you $500,000 with my fanbase.”

Not only did Henson not receive the amount she asked for, she was offered over $400,000 less than what she requested.

“I was offered [$75,000],” she revealed. “And then we fought and fought until we got [$150,000].”

While her salary was nowhere near what she requested, Henson’s performance earned her a coveted Oscar nomination and set the stage for continued success in films like Hidden Figures, Empire, and What Men Want.

Now, she’s set to amaze audiences with her portrayal of Shug Avery in Winfrey’s musical rendition of the 1985 Oscar-winning drama. There’s growing chatter about this movie’s Oscar-worthy results. With Henson, Fantasia Barrino, Danielle Brooks, and Colman Domingo all in the cast, there’s a strong possibility that someone could walk away with an Academy Award, as may the film itself.