Palm Springs, California, was ablaze with star power as Hollywood A-listers graced the red carpet at the 35th Annual Palm Springs International Film Festival Awards Gala.
Joining Lenny Kravitz, Willem Dafoe, and Billie Eilish, Taraji P. Henson stood out at the event, making heads turn with her magnetic presence and jaw-dropping fashion statement.
At the desert city’s Convention Center on Thursday, January 4, the 53-year-old wealthy American actress, renowned for her role in The Color Purple, captivated onlookers in a show-stopping green ensemble.
Elegance Personified: Taraji P. Henson steals the show in a stunning green Alexandre Vauthier dress at the 2024 Palm Springs International Film Festival at Palm Springs Convention Center on January 4, 2024, in Palm Springs, California (Credit: Xavier Collin / Image Press Agency / Abaca Press / INSTARimages)
Henson graced the occasion in a bright green Alexandre Vauthier ruched dress adorned with elaborate crystal embellishments that glittered beneath the dazzling gala lights.
The Abbott Elementary star’s gown boasted a bold plunging neckline, offering a generous glimpse of her assets, while a tastefully gathered waist highlighted her curves.
Loose sleeves gracefully stopped just above her elbows, while a draped split detail added a touch of allure, revealing her slender legs and contributing to the dress’ unmatched elegance.
Glamour at the Gala: Taraji P. Henson’s outfit highlights her style and grace with a plunging neckline and a high ponytail (Credit: Xavier Collin / Image Press Agency / Abaca Press / INSTARimages)
Henson opted for statement rings for her fingers, including a green tourmaline and blue sapphire Selim Mouzannar Gemma ring.
Radiating in a glamorous makeup look, she complemented her attire with a sleek high ponytail that allowed her drop earrings to shine through, showcasing her minimalistic yet impactful approach to accessories.
Elegance Down to Her Toes: Taraji P. Henson graces the red carpet in chic gold embossed leather mules by Malone Souliers (Credit: Xavier Collin / Image Press Agency / Abaca Press / INSTARimages)
Adding an extra layer of glamour, the Baby Boy actress completed her gala look with Una 90 gold embossed leather mules from Malone Souliers that featured strappy, multicolor metallic high heels, perfectly complementing her dazzling outfit. You can find her heels at Farfetch in a wide range of colors.
The Color Purple’s Box Office Success
The star-studded event honored outstanding talents, including Emma Stone, Cillian Murphy, Colman Domingo, and Greta Gerwig, with Taraji P. Henson herself presenting the PSIFF Film Awards’ Spotlight Actress Award to Danielle Brooks for her role in The Color Purple.
The film has been a box office success, grossing over $40 million and earning acclaim for its Christmas Day opening.
Currently showing in theaters, this musical stands as a screen adaptation of its Broadway counterpart, drawing inspiration from Alice Walker’s novel, which made its way to the big screen in 1985.
Iconic Blues Singer on Screen: Taraji P. Henson mesmerizes as Shug Avery in the musical adaptation of ‘The Color Purple’ (Credit: Warner Bros. Pictures)
The remake is about the life-long struggles of an African-American woman living in the South during the early 1900s.
Taraji P. Henson takes on the role of Shug Avery, a captivating blues singer with a heart of gold, admired by men and envied by many women.
The ensemble cast, contributing to the film’s star-studded lineup, features talents such as Halle Bailey, Fantasia Barrino, Corey Hawkins, David Alan Grier, Ciara, H.E.R., and Deon Cole.
Taraji P. Henson’s Controversial Salary Remark
While engaging in promotional interviews for the film, Taraji P. Henson stirred controversy with a candid salary remark.
Speaking to Gayle King for SiriusXM radio, the Hidden Numbers star expressed being “tired of working so hard” and “getting paid a fraction of the cost.”
Her comments on the prevalent issue of pay disparity in the industry ignited widespread discussion and garnered substantial support.
Powerful Words: Taraji P. Henson opens up about salary inequality in Hollywood, making a strong impact at the awards show (Credit: Xavier Collin / Image Press Agency / Abaca Press / INSTARimages)
During the awards show, Henson elaborated on her message in a conversation with ET‘s Denny Directo, expressing her surprise at its powerful impact on the audience.
She shared, “[It’s] because I’ve been saying it for years. If you go and do research and look at any women of color in the industry, they said the same thing.”
Henson added, “I don’t know why people decided to hear the words [this time], maybe it was the emotion attached to it. But like I said in the interview, I’m just tired of us having that same conversation. Something’s gotta give.”