Taraji Penda Henson is a singer and actress who was born on September 11, 1970 in Washington, D.C. She appears as one of the newest members of the cast in the ABC network’s legal drama television series Boston Legal. Henson’s first and middle names are of Swahili origin, and they respectively mean “hope” and “love.” She is also distantly related to Matthew Henson, who was one of the first men to discover and reach the North Pole. Henson studied at Oxon High School before going on to earn a degree in theater arts from Howard University. She has worked on films such as The Adventures of Rocky and Bullwinkle, Four Brothers, and Smokin’ Aces.

Whitney Rome is played by Taraji Henson on the ABC legal drama, Boston Legal. Described as "tough," Rome works together with Carl Sack. Rome is a premiere though unconventional litigator from the New York office who transfers herself to C.P.& S. Boston.

(Photo courtesy of ABC)