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Photos: Michael Avedon

Taraji P. Henson is hotter than ever.

The talented Oscar nominated actress who can also sing like it’s nobody’s business, has wowed us for years in her movies including Baby Boy, Hustle & Flow, The Curious Case of Benjamin Button plus endless TV credits. However, now she’s really hit a chord.

Enter Cookie from hit FOX show EMPIRE returning soon for its second season.

We can’t wait.

Looking fabulous, Taraji spoke to Harper’s Bazaar about Cookie, style, men, and her late father.

Here’s a bit:

Taraji P. Henson’s favorite Cookie outfit so far:

“Alaïa black catsuit, hands down.  I’ve even worn some of my own stuff, like my Balman leather.  I have to meet [Balmain designer] Olivier Rousteing; I need to be his friend.”

On modeling Cookie after her late father:

“He had no buffer.  He spoke the truth.  It’s heroic because in this society we have been trained to be politically correct.  Political correctness is bullshit.  If I ask you a question right now, the first thing that comes in your mind is the truth.  But we’ve all be been trained to breathe, digest the question, and manipulate the answer.  Cookie doesn’t do that.”

On her personal style:

“It took me a while to get on the chic bus.  I was coming from the era of Lil’ Kim and Mary J. Blige, you know, ghetto fabulous.  I came from nothing, I was deprived all my life, so when you get money, you go big!”

Henson is currently single but is specific about what she’s looking for in a man:

“He is funny, has personality; he doesn’t take himself too seriously.  He need to be confident in who he is, confident to let me be who I am.  And let me shine, you know?  My life is only going to enhance his light.”

Pictured:

Taraji wears Caftan By Roberto Cavalli and Rings By Pomellato, John Hardy, David Yurman and Roberto Coin.