Taraji P. Henson is one tough Cookie, smoulders on W Magazine.

The 44-year-old star steamed up W Magazine in a glamorous, but extra sexy, fashion spread.

Taraji herself had to work hard to get where she is, making a tough choice for her and her son Marcel Henson, 20, and risking everything to make it in Hollywood.

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Strength through struggle: The star had to work hard to get where she is, making a tough choice for her and her son Marcel Henson, 20, and risking everything to make it in Hollywood (pictured 2014)

The star moved out to Los Angeles when her son was a toddler: 'It was a struggle. But my son grew as my career grew. I never had a nanny - I did TV so I could be home with him. I wasn’t making my millions, but I was able to fulfill my dreams and be a mother.'

Of course, the struggle paid off with an Oscar nomination for Actress in a Supporting Role for The Curious Case of Benjamin Button and now having the top role in television's top show.

While the role of the matriarch struggling to get a piece of the business she started before spending years behind bars is now the role of her career, Taraji almost did not take it when creator Lee Daniels offered it to her.

'I was like, ''This is stupid. Hip-hop - dumb, dumb, dumb, dumb.'' But then I started to think, ''Cookie is going to piss so many people off!''

'She hits her son with a broom; she talks back. Clearly, this was a challenge.'

Instead of 'pissing people off' Cookie and her outlandish style have become fan favourites.

'They want Cookie. They see her heart. They see her intentions. 

'And they love her style - her style is 17 years behind the fashion curve, which makes the clothes a character on the show. As Cookie grows, you’ll see her fashion grow. And people love that - she’s a work in progress. 

'The only thing that never changes is her spirit: To me, Cookie is living, breathing, walking truth.'

Promotion for the second season of the Fox show, which also stars Terrence Howard, has furiously started.

However, the push to make this season even bigger than the last has already taken its toll, with Taraji ending up in the hospital last week.

On Friday, the actress posted a picture on her social media of herself with a drip on her arm.