Most Americans are familar with 1962's historic Friendship 7 flight, in which John Glenn became the first American astronaut to orbit the Earth. But little do most of us know, there was an equally groundbreaking event happening down on the ground at NASA's Langley Research Center.
"It's just amazing, to me, that the story wasn't told," says Taraji P. Henson, who stars alongside Octavia Spencer and Janelle Monae in 20th Century Fox's "Hidden Figures."
The film, which also co-stars Jim Parsons and Kevin Costner, seeks to tell the inspiring tale of the three African American mathematicians (Katherine Johnson, Dorothy Vaughan and Mary Jackson) who helped put Glenn into space in the first place. And just as importantly, it recognizes their extraordinary achievements, which, otherwise, would likely be lost to time.
"These womens are heroes," adds Henson, who plays Johnson. "Like, they're heroes! You see capes behind them, but they're not there."
Watch the rest of the FOXlight segment above for more from Henson, Spencer, Monae, and co-stars Kevin Costner and Jim Parsons.
Trending
Who's making headlines in television, music, movies and more from Hollywood to the Heartland.