If you’re like one of us, you’ve been glued to the mockumentary sitcom television series Abbott Elementary, which takes viewers on the journey of teachers who find themselves thrown in a Philadelphia public school to help their students succeed in life. Well, it has now been revealed who will play the mother of the main protagonist, Janine.
According to Variety, Taraji P. Henson is posed to play Vanetta on the hit ABC show. Henson’s casting was announced Saturday at the Paley Center for Media’s annual PaleyFest in Los Angeles where a panel, which featured the show’s other stars, Sheryl Lee Ralph, Lisa Ann Walter, Tyler James Williams and William Stanford Davis came together to talk about the popular hit series.
In the second season finale entitled Mom, set to air April 12, Henson will appear to share more background on the show’s characters. Actress Ayo Edibiri will also appear as Ayesha, Janine’s sister. The show is scripted to portray Janine (played by Quinta Brunson) planning a solo Memorial Day weekend trip when her mother Janine shows up unannounced.
Henson is a star in her own right after winning three BET awards for her role as Cookie Lyon in the hit show Empire. She has also earned three Emmy nominations, a Golden Globe Award and a Critics Choice Award.
Henson has steadily built her portfolio starring in the hit films Baby Boy, Hidden Figures, Think Like a Man, Talk to Me, Smokin’ Aces, The Family That Preys, No Good Dead, Hurricane Season, Larry Crowne, What Men Want, The Best of Enemies and The Curious Case of Benjamin Button, which earned her an Oscar nomination for best supporting actress.
She has also become an animated films staple after lending her voice to the movies in the movies Minions: The Rise of Gru, Paw Patrol: The Mighty Movie and Ralph Breaks the Internet: Wreck It Ralph 2.
Later this year, she is slated to star in the film adaptation of the Broadway musical The Color Purple.
