Taraji P. Henson Joins ‘Abbott Elementary’ as Janine’s Mother

Lastly placing a face to the identify. Taraji P. Henson is becoming a member of season 2 of Abbott Elementary within the function of Janine’s (Quinta Brunson) estranged mom.

“I used to be so exited to hitch Quinta and the superb solid!” Henson, 52, stated in a particular video message at PaleyFest in Los Angeles on Saturday, April 1.

The panel for the hit ABC collection additionally included solid members Sheryl Lee Ralph, Tyler James Williams, Lisa Ann Walter and William Stanford Davis. Janelle James and Chris Perfetti appeared by way of webcam whereas Brunson, 33, and the Empire alum pre-recorded their messages.

Henson will seem in an episode titled “Mother,” which is about to air on April 12. The thrilling casting information comes after Ayo Edebiri made her onscreen debut as Janine’s sister, Ayesha, final month. The Bear star, 27, beforehand made a cameo when followers saw the sibling duo have an awkward conversation over FaceTime.

Janine’s strained relationship with her mother and sister has been a minor story line in previous episodes. Though the trainer was in a position to work out her points with Ayesha, Brunson hinted that Janine would nonetheless need to face her mother.

“I believe relationships with moms are very defining, particularly for somebody who’s then caring for kids — like Janine, who’s caring for teenagers,” the Golden Globe winner advised Reuters in September 2022. “It connects lots to her relationships within the faculty. I do know numerous ladies in my life who’ve had very difficult relationships with their mothers sadly.”

In response to Brunson, it felt essential to point out the aftermath of how the private trauma affected Janine. That very same month, the screenwriter teased what else fans of the critically acclaimed comedy series could expect in season 2.

“We’ll be going dwelling and out with them extra. Within the first season, I actually wished folks to fall in love with Abbott the college and the employees. We wished folks to really feel like they wished to work at or went to Abbott,” she shared with Leisure Weekly. “This season, they know us effectively. They know the academics effectively. They know the college effectively. Now, we will exit to occasions and events, into our characters’ homes and be exterior extra. However I nonetheless imagine a office comedy ought to happen within the office. So, it’s not like we’ll be become a complete different present.”

In the meantime, Ralph, 66, praised Abbott Elementary for coming up with new ways to highlight the characters outside of the classroom. “You might be persevering with to be taught extra about these characters. Who they are surely [and] what their factors of views are,” the Dreamgirls star completely advised Us Weekly in February. “I simply love that my character — regardless that you haven’t seen my husband on this explicit season — we speak about him. I really like the truth that that may be a loving relationship.”

Ralph recalled the second she realized Abbott Elementary was something special.

“After we have been capturing the pilot, Tyler and I had a second the place we checked out one another and he actually stated, ‘You are feeling it, don’t you?’ And I stated, ‘Completely, I really feel it. One thing is occurring right here. One thing is occurring,’” she added. “Going into the primary season — the primary 18 episodes — we weren’t shocked in any respect. We knew we have been doing one thing very particular.”

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With reporting by Kat Pettibone