Taraji P. Henson Accepts Losing To Viola Davis At The 2015 Emmy’s, Describes The Experience ‘Bittersweet’

Taraji P. Henson is happy that Viola Davis became the first African-American woman to win Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama Series at the Emmy’s 2015. However, as she was also a nominee on the said category, she admitted that it would have been a dream come true for her if she had won the trophy.

Henson was one of the first people among the audience who have given Davis a standing ovation. But being human, she also expressed that she wanted to win the award, E!Online reported.

In an interview with Ellen Degeneres on Tuesday, Henson said, “It was bittersweet, you know what I mean, because we all want to make history and be important to society and everything. But then I thought about it. I was like ‘It’s 2015 and we have a black president and no black woman has ever won in this category. Like this is weird.’ So when I went into it and I knew I was being nominated alongside of Viola, I just thought to myself, ‘God, just please give it to one of us so we will never have to say that again. You know, let’s just break this barrier down and keep on pushing.’ I think the universe is happy. Viola deserved that award. And, honestly, I would have felt weird if I had gotten it over her. You know what I mean? She’s been doing it longer. You’ve just got to give respect and know when your time is.”

Degeneres also mentioned about Davis’ powerful acceptance speech upon receiving the award where she said, “You cannot win an Emmy for roles that are simply not there.” Henson also said that she felt proud for Davis and she thinks that the universe needed to hear Davis’s message.

Fifty-year-old actress Davis, won for her role on the ABC drama, "How to Get Away with Murder." Henson, on the other hand, was nominated for her role as Cookie, in the Fox TV show, Empire, US Magazine reported.

Henson brought her 91-year-old grandmother to the Emmy’s on Sunday. For her, attending the event with four generations of her family, including her son, is what that made her night extra special.