Award-winning actress Taraji P. Henson has once again proven why she’s one of Hollywood’s most powerful performers. Her latest role in Tyler Perry’s emotional drama Straw has taken Netflix by storm—claiming the platform’s top spot and leaving viewers worldwide visibly shaken.

“All I can say is I’m humbled. This brings me to my knees in gratitude!” Tyler Perry wrote, reacting to the overwhelming response.

Henson, in an emotional message to her fans, revealed she filmed her scenes in just four days—while simultaneously working on another project, Fight Night.

“Y’all I am sooooo grateful! God is so good,” she wrote. “We filmed my part in 4 days while I was still on set for Fight Night. I worked Thursday to Sunday on Straw, and by Monday, I was back playing my other role.”

A Career-Defining Performance

In Straw, Henson plays Janiyah Wiltkinson, a single mother whose life collapses under the crushing weight of trauma, loss, and poverty. Her portrayal has been hailed as one of the most vulnerable and nuanced of her career.

The story follows Janiyah as she:

• Gets fired and evicted

• Has her daughter taken away by Child Protective Services

• Becomes involved in a workplace robbery gone wrong

• Ends up in a tense standoff at a bank

But the true heartbreak is revealed in a final twist: her daughter Aria had already died the night before. Everything—every desperate act, every frantic decision—was a manifestation of Janiyah’s grief-induced psychotic break.

A Story That Cuts Deep

Tyler Perry’s Straw isn’t just a drama—it’s a gut-wrenching portrayal of mental illness, single motherhood, and systemic failure. It forces viewers to confront questions about how society fails women like Janiyah, who are often left to carry the emotional, financial, and psychological burdens alone.

Taraji’s performance is raw, grounded, and soul-baring—earning widespread acclaim from audiences, critics, and peers alike.

“When you know your instrument, you can do whatever, whenever,” Henson shared. “Thank you @TylerPerry for always trusting and pushing me to do and be better. I love you.”

She also gave love to her co-stars Sherri Shepherd and Teyana Taylor, calling them “sisters forever.”

More Than a Movie—It’s a Wake-Up Call

At its core, Straw is a film about the hidden suffering of women—particularly Black women—navigating invisible battles in plain sight.

By portraying the psychological toll of grief and societal neglect, the film strikes a deep chord, prompting conversations around mental health, family separation, and the quiet resilience of mothers who are pushed to the edge.