It was Taraji P. Henson's night Saturday at the 48th annual NAACP Image Awards.
At the swanky ceremony, held at the Pasadena Civic Auditorium in Pasadena, California, Henson snagged two major honors: outstanding actress in a drama series for Empire and outstanding actress in a motion picture for Hidden Figures, which also won the award for outstanding motion picture.
Henson and her Hidden Figures co-stars Janelle Monae and Octavia Spencer accepted the honors collectively.
Winning: Taraji P. Henson cleaned up at the 48th annual NAACP Image Awards, taking home the honors for outstanding actress in a drama series for Empire and outstanding actress in a motion picture for Hidden Figures
Group effort: Henson, along with castmates Janelle Monae and Octavia Spencer, accepted Hidden Figures' award for outstanding motion picture
Top of the mountain: Henson was humble and selfless as she collected her honors
In accepting the honors for the Fox hit, Henson delivered a speech complimenting her fellow nominees.
'I know I'm up here getting the award, but the women in the category, we need each other,' she said of her competition for the prize, which included Kerry Washington, Viola Davis, Jurnee Smollett-Bell and Rutina Wesley.
'Without you, I'm nothing ... you inspire me, so let's keep doing this because we're working and it's beautiful to watch,' said Henson. 'Thank you to NAACP, thank you to all the fans, that's all I can sayjust thank you.'
Triple threat: The trio posed with their statue for the drama, which is also up for an Oscar later this month, with Spencer (left) up for best supporting actress
Multimedia queen: Impressive is that Henson's wins came for her efforts both on the silver screen and small screen
Top of the mountain: Denzel Washington and Henson posed together at the swanky ceremony
Another memorable speech came from Denzel Washington, 62, as he claimed the honors for outstanding actor in a motion picture for his work in Fences.
The 6ft1 leading man, a double Oscar-winner for 1989's Glory and 2001's Training Day, delivered a rousing acceptance speech in collecting his honors.
He paid homage to the writer of Fences, the late August Wilson, who died in 2005 at the age of 60.
'August Wilson is one of the greatest playwrights in the history of American or world theater,' Denzel stated. 'It is a privilege and honor, responsibility, duty, and a joy to bring his brilliance to the screen.'
Washington said he was 'particularly proud and happy' of the new crop of 'young actors, filmmakers, singers and producers that are coming up behind my generation,' singling out 37-year-old Moonlight writer-directer Barry Jenkins, an Oscar-nominee this year, as an example of how persistence and hard work leads to results.
'This young man made 10, 15, 20 short films before he got the opportunity to make Moonlight so never give up,' the inspirational Flight star stated. 'Without commitment, you'll never start, but more importantly, without consistency you'll never finish.
One of many? Odds-makers have Denzel in a close competition with Casey Affleck to capture the best actor Oscar later this month
Keep focused: Washington in his speech stressed hard work, persistence and sticktoitiveness
Washington stressed that success is not easily achieved, noting off a litany of Hollywood starsincluding Henson, Kerry Washington, Octavia Spencer and Viola Davis, among otherswho had to persevere until their careers hit the stratosphere.
'Fall down seven times, get up eight,' he said, adding that 'ease is a greater threat to progress then hardship.
'Keep moving, keep learning, keep growing, see you at work.'
NAACP IMAGE AWARDS WINNERS
Entertainer of the Year: Dwayne 'The Rock' Johnson
Outstanding Motion Picture: Hidden Figures
Outstanding Actress in a Motion Picture: Taraji P. Henson, Hidden Figures
Outstanding Drama Series: Queen Sugar
Outstanding Actor in a Comedy Series: Anthony Anderson, Black-ish
Outstanding Actor in a Drama Series: Sterling K. Brown, This Is Us
Outstanding Comedy Series: Black-ish
Outstanding Actress in a Drama Series: Taraji P. Henson, Empire
Outstanding Actress in a Comedy Series: Tracee Ellis Ross, Black-ish
Outstanding Actor in a Motion Picture: Denzel Washington, Fences
Outstanding New Artist: Chance the Rapper
Outstanding Male Artist: Maxwell
Outstanding Female Artist: Beyoncé
Outstanding Duo, Group or Collaboration: 'Freedom,' Beyoncé feat. Kendrick Lamar
Outstanding Jazz Album: Latin American Songbook, Edward Simon
Outstanding Gospel Album (Traditional or Contemporary): One Way, Tamela Mann
Outstanding Music Video: 'Formation,' Beyoncé
Outstanding Song (Traditional): 'I See A Victory,' Kim Burrell and Pharrell Williams
Outstanding Album: Lemonade, Beyoncé
Outstanding Song (Contemporary): 'Freedom,' Beyoncé feat. Kendrick Lamar
Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Comedy Series: Laurence Fishburne, Black-ish
Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series: Tichina Arnold, Survivor's Remorse
Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Drama Series: Jussie Smollett, Empire
Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Drama Series: Naturi Naughton, Power
Outstanding Television Movie, Limited-Series, or Dramatic Special: The People v. O.J. Simpson: American Crime Story
Outstanding Actor in a Television Movie, Limited-Series, or Dramatic Special: Courtney B. Vance, The People v. O.J. Simpson: American Crime Story
Outstanding Actress in a Television Movie, Limited-Series, or Dramatic Special: Regina King, American Crime
Outstanding News/Information (Series or Special): BET Love and Happiness White House Special
Outstanding Talk Series: Steve Harvey
Outstanding Reality Program/Reality Competition Series: Iyanla: Fix My Life
Outstanding Variety (Series or Special): 2016 Black Girls Rock
Outstanding Children's Program: An American Girl Story – Melody 1963: Love Has to Win
Outstanding Performance by a Youth (Series, Special, Television Movie or Limited-Series): Marsai Martin, Black-ish
Outstanding Host in a News, Talk, Reality, or Variety Program (Series or Special) – Individual or Ensemble: Roland S. Martin – NewsOne Now with Roland S. Martin
Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Motion Picture: Mahershala Ali, Moonlight
Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Motion Picture: Viola Davis, Fences
Outstanding Independent Motion Picture: Moonlight
Outstanding Documentary (Film): 13TH
Outstanding Documentary (Television): Roots: A New Vision
Outstanding Writing in a Comedy Series: Kenya Barris, Black-ish
Outstanding Writing in a Drama Series: Ava DuVernay, Queen Sugar
Outstanding Writing in a Motion Picture (Television): Charles Murray, Roots–Night 3
Outstanding Writing in a Motion Picture (Film): Barry Jenkins, Moonlight
Outstanding Directing in a Comedy Series: Donald Glover, Atlanta–Value
Outstanding Directing in a Drama Series: John Singleton, The People v. O.J. Simpson: American Crime Story–The Race Card
Outstanding Directing in a Motion Picture (Television): Rick Famuyiwa, Confirmation
Outstanding Directing in a Motion Picture (Film): Barry Jenkins, Moonlight
Outstanding Character Voice-Over Performance (Television or Film): Idris Elba, The Jungle Book
Outstanding Literary Work (Fiction): The Book of Harlan, Bernice L. McFadden
Outstanding Literary Work (Nonfiction): Hidden Figures, Margot Lee Shetterly
Outstanding Literary Work, (Debut Author): Born A Crime: Stories from a South African Childhood, Trevor Noah
Outstanding Literary Work (Biography/Autobiography): Born A Crime: Stories from a South African Childhood, Trevor Noah
Outstanding Literary Work (Instructional): The Power of Broke: How Empty Pockets, a Tight Budget, and a Hunger for Success Can Become Your Greatest Competitive Advantage, Daymond John, Daniel Paisner
Outstanding Literary Work (Poetry): Collected Poems: 1974-2004, Rita Dove
Outstanding Literary Work (Children): Tiny Stitches: The Life of Medical Pioneer Vivien Thomas, Gwendolyn Hooks, Colin Bootman
Outstanding Literary Work (Youth/Teens): As Brave As You, Jason Reynolds
The Jackie Robinson Sports Award: LeBron James
The Chairman's Award: Charles J. Ogletree Jr.
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