[SPOILER ALERT:Stop reading if you havent watched Tuesdays jaw-dropping, game-changing episode ofPerson of Interest!]
How are you feeling,Person of Interestfans!?
Have you picked yourself up off the floor yet after the last moments of Tuesdays episode?
Credit: John Paul Filo/CBS
(Also, check out our interview with the shows producers!)
ENTERTAINMENT WEEKLY: When did you first learn that Carter would die?
TARAJI P. HENSON:I always knew that we would have a beginning, a middle and an end.
You dont tell the audience Hey, shes not gonna last!
We always knew we would do two, maybe three seasons.
How did you feel when you finally had the script in hand?
You portray a character for so long, you care about her and her life.
But art imitates lifeit comes to an end unexpectedly.
It was bittersweet, because I enjoyed portraying Carter.
What a strong, powerful woman on television.
Did you feel like, from a storytelling standpoint, it was time for Carter to go?
The audience will shocked because you dont see it coming.
She said she was going to bring down HR, and she did.
What was it like filming your last scene?
The mood on set was bittersweet, even with the crew.
We laugh and we joke, but at the end of the laughs, it was a sigh.
Was it a challenge for you to keep the secret?
I felt like I was lying to my lover.
I felt like people could see it on my face.
The show is a frequent employer of flashbacks.
Do you think youd be up to return in one?
Maybe theyll write me in Im totally up for that.
I just thought [Carters story] was brilliant and I was down for it.
The show seemed to be finding a really good balance between Carter, Reese and Finch.
They really started to click.
They were her boys, they were her angels, they protected her.
But remember, in the end, she takes the bullet protecting Reese.
Im telling you, the audience is going to be floored.
Carter felt like such a real character.
What did you love about her?
Some shows never really find the complexity of women and what we juggle.
This woman is a cop and a single mother.
This is a real person.
She reminds me a lot of myself.
Shes very strong, has very respectable morals and values, is someone you could look up to.
A hero, basically.
To me, Carter was a superhero, just [with] more pantsuits.
How will Carters death affect her son Taylor?
I think the writers were brilliant in how they wrote the story and brought [Taylors] father back.
My dad died in 2006.
What do you wish you could have done as Carter?
Thats what I really wanted her to do!
But the thing is, the arc they wrote for my character included all of that.
Carter lived out her dream.
Theres one episode where shes sniping from the roof.
She did badass stuff!
Would you want to do more badass stuff?
Absolutely, who wouldnt?
Do you have a favorite scene or line from the show?
[laughs] Everybody knew that that scene was coming.
When we were filming it, the camera operator was salivating.
They kept pushing in and pushing in and you could feel the energy in the room.
You just know when youre filming something incredible.
You could feel it, it was palpable.
How did you and the cast celebrate after wrapping?
They got a disco ball and a DJ in the camera truck.
We had cigars and champagne, and we sent Carter off with a bang.
Im still smiling inside and out.
Whats next on your plate?
The first thing I want to do is a play.
I love theater, because thats where I was trained.
After I come off of a big project and I have space, I always go back to theater.
What are your parting words for Carter fans?
Carter will always be with you.
Now shes an angel, so shes even more powerful.
Person of Interestairs Tuesdays at 10 p.m.
ET on CBS.Read our Q&A with the producers on the latest episode here.
