Talented Taraji P. Henson has seen her career sky-rocket thanks to her role as Cookie Lyon on FOX smash ‘Empire.’

And with the show still a ratings force in its second season, the Emmy nominee’s star continues to head in an upward direction.

It’s also landed her on the cover of ESSENCE Magazine‘s November 2015 issue, which she regally rocks.

Check out quotes from her feature below…

Speaking on the recognition she’s now receiving, the ‘Benjamin Button’ actress told the mag:

“Even though people are just now finding me as Cookie, thank God for Netflix because people are so moved by my performance they’re like, ‘Where has she been?’ I’ve always said I want to do the type of work that people study…

I’m just gonna keep amassing an audience. Everything was strategically planned. This is what all my efforts are for.”

What’s more, amidst the retropective on her career and sister-girl talk, Henson stressed that she never forgets is the importance of taking the business of acting seriously:

“These kids are thinking they can do reality TV and come and do this craft that I studied, sweated and grinded. People forget it’s a craft because it’s so pop now…Can they make me believe the words coming out of their mouth?”

The November issue of ESSENCE hits newsstands on October 16th.

‘Empire’ airs on FOX every Wednesday at 9pm ET. Click here to preview the next episode.

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