Taraji P. Henson on Her Success: 'Check Yourself Because People Pray to Be Here'

Taraji P. Henson gets her close up as the queen on Entertainment Weekly‘s new cover!

Here’s what the 45-year-old Empire star had to share:

On Cookie’s popularity: “Cookie has all kinds of fans, all. I get it. She’s my alter ego – we all need a Sasha Fierce.”

On starring in Empire and in the new film Hidden Figures: “This is my first time carrying a show and then going to carry a movie. That’s a lot. It’s so stressful, and I had to really check myself because it’s so easy to take for granted when you get to a certain level. Like check yourself because people pray to be here.”

For more from Taraji, visit EW.com.