Dimitrios Kambouris/Getty Taraji P. Henson revealed that she took a month-long break from work in Bali The actress said she took the trip in order to "refocus" her priorities after feeling "discouraged" and "frustrated" by Hollywood She said that she came back from the trip "refreshed and with a new perspective" Taraji P. Hensonsays she took a break from Hollywood to "refocus" on what she wanted out of life and her career. The Color Purplestar, 54, revealed at a Kering Women in Motion Talk at theCannes Film Festivalthat she recently flew to Bali for a month-long trip after feeling "discouraged" and "frustrated" over thelack of pay, prominent roles and awards recognition she was getting in Hollywood as a woman of color. "I was just frustrated and it was making me bitter, and I'm not a bitter person," Henson said, perVariety. "I made a promise to myself [that] if I ever got there, then it's time to walk away. I'm not serving myself or the audience or the characters I play." "Thank god I did that," she added. "I came back refreshed and with a new perspective." Karwai Tang/WireImage Henson said that the break helped her "refocus" on the things that really mattered like changing lives, instead of going for "trophies and the awards" — which are things that she "never came into the industry for." That's why when she came back, she didn't immediately head to the studios, but moved to work on her hair care lineTPHso she didn't just rely "on that check from Hollywood." Elsewhere during the talk, she encouraged the audience to "speak up for yourself" — something which she said she has been doing more and more when it comes to the TV and film industries. TheHidden Figuresactress said that came with time and knowing her worth. Never miss a story — sign up forPEOPLE's free daily newsletterto stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from juicy celebrity news to compelling human interest stories. Taylor Hill/Getty "I have worked my butt off to garner the following I have. My following rides for me," she said, per Variety. "That's an audience I procured through my hard work and the characters I play. I know a studio, when they call on me, they are calling on me because they know all these people are going to come and show up. That's my power." "You need me because you need my following. Thank you, social media. Once I figured that out, I just started speaking up for myself," she added. This isn't the first time that Henson has spoken up about thestruggles that she has facedin her industry. TheEmpirestar previously broke down in tears in 2023 while chatting withGayle KingforSiriusXMradio about having worked "so hard" while "getting paid a fraction of the cost." "I'm tired of hearing my sisters saying the same thing over and over," she continued, calling out what she perceives as a pay gap for Black women in Hollywood. "I hear people go, 'You work a lot.' I have to. The math ain't mathing." Read the original article onPeople
