Taraji P. Henson wants to meet a guy who will let her ''shine''.

The 'Empire' actress - who has a 21-year-old son Marcell from a past relationship - is currently single and is looking for a man who doesn't take himself seriously and won't try to change her.

Asked her type, she said: ''He is funny, has personality, he doesn't take himself too seriously. He needs to be confident in who he is, confident to let me be who I am. And let me shine, you know? My light is only going to enhance his light.''

But the 44-year-old actress admits she has always been cautious about dating and having guys around her son.

She added in an interview with Harper's Bazaar magazine: ''My dad said to him, 'People are going to try to be your friend because of what your mother does.' That stuck.

''Even guys who try to be a mentor to him -- because, you know, his father was murdered when Marcell was nine -- so I was very particular about not dating.

''I don't want to just bring a man around. Marcell knows how to gauge, Are you here for me, or do you like my mother?''

Despite experiencing a surge in popularity and being recognised more since she was cast as Cookie Lyon in 'Empire', Taraji insists she isn't interested in being a celebrity.

She said: ''It's hard. But I'm a woman now; I have a kid who's 21. I'm not sensationalised; I'm not all into the celebrity.

''This is a job. I love what I do, but I am clear it is a job.''