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Taraji P. Henson: 'Studios Underestimate My Box Office Draw'

Plus, Idris Elba on being a sex symbol.

This Friday, Idris Elba and Taraji P. Henson will attempt to breathe some life back into the dormant box office with their thriller No Good Deed. Elba plays an outright villian for the first time in the film, and while many women will flock to the theater on the promise that the British hunk takes his shirt off in the film, an equal number are excited to see Miss Henson give Elba's character, an escaped convict intent on bad behavior, a run for his money.
We sat down with the actors to talk about the film. Elba claims he was resistent at first to playing such a bad guy for fear of alienating his largely-female fan base, he ultimately agreed because, "I like to keep my audience guessing." The actor also opens up about his reputation as the ultimate ladies' man. "It's so funny that that is my image, because growing up I was never that guy." Elba admits he's embarassed himself in front of women "hundreds of times" and that men shouldn't be intimidated by him, but jokes, "don't leave your woman around me!"
Henson, meanwhile, talks to us about surviving Elba's attacks in the film, and fighting for her life in Hollywood. "Network executives don't always get me, and studios underestimate my box office draw," she says, adding that she always delivers when given a chance to prove herself. Henson also has some nice words to say about her hunky co-star, revealing the secret to his success with women lies in his charm and his "teddy bear" like demeanor.
Check out our exclusive interviews with Taraji P. Henson and Idris Elba below, and to hear the A-list actors share their views on the most newsworthy topic of the day, the tragic death of Ferguson, Missouri teenager Michael Brownclick here.
Plus, go here to tell us what you would do if Idris Elba showed up at your door.

No Good Deed hits theaters on September 12.

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 (Photo: Mark Davis/Getty Images)

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