Former “Empire” star Taraji P. Henson has scored the key guest-starring role of Janine’s mother, Vanetta, in the second season of “Abbott Elementary” with Henson to first appear in the role on April 12th in the penultimate episode of the second season.
The casting was revealed today at the annual PaleyFest LA event as part of a panel for the show. Series stars Sheryl Lee Ralph, Lisa Ann Walter, Tyler James Wiliams and William Stanford Davis are on hand in person, whilst Janelle James and Chris Perfetti appeared via Zoom from New York.
Series star and executive producer Quinta Brunson couldn’t attend as she is hosting tonight’s “Saturday Night Live” episode.
The episode sees Janine (Brunson) is planning a Memorial Day weekend solo trip which gets derailed when her mother, Vanetta (Henson), shows up unannounced and asks for help. Henson will likely reprise the role for further guest appearances.
Henson has earned three Emmy nominations, a Golden Globe Award, a Critics Choice Award and three BET awards for her “Empire” work.
Breaking out in “Hustle & Flow,” she quickly built up a resume including the likes of “Hidden Figures,” “Larry Crowne,” “Smokin’ Aces,” “The Curious Case of Benjamin Button,” “What Men Want,” “No Good Deed,” “Talk to Me” and “Minions: The Rise of Gru”.
She next appears in the film adaptation of the Broadway musical version of “The Color Purple”.
Source: Variety
