Taraji P. Henson says it 'would have felt weird' to win Emmy over Viola Davis

Taraji P. Henson opens up on 'Ellen' about Viola Davis winning the Emmy Award she was nominated for...

Sep 22, 2015

Taraji P. Henson was nominated in the same category as Viola Davis for Davis’ history Emmy win, but she is absolutely thrilled for Davis for her win.

“I think the universe is happy,” Henson told Ellen DeGeneres. “Viola deserved that award. And honestly it would have felt weird if I had gotten it over her. … She’s been doing it longer. You’ve just got to give respect and know when your time is.”

She went on to say that it was “bittersweet” to see history being made on Sunday night.

“Because here we are in 2015, and we’re still saying things like, ‘First African-American,’ ‘First woman this.’ I just pray to God … and it’s not even about me. I hope Viola wins. I hope I win,” Henson continued. “Just so we can get past this and we don’t have to say in 2020 or 2030 or 3000, ‘The first’ – I mean, come on, really.”

When DeGeneres went on to praise Davis’ acceptance speech, Henson emphatically agreed. “And I feel like the universe needed to hear that message too,” she said, adding, “had I won, it wouldn’t have been that message. … I think the universe orders up what it needs when it needs it. And I think the world needed to hear what she had to say.”