Since we already have anxiety about waiting for Empire‘s return after the Season 2 finale, we opted to while away our nervous energy unearthing obscure and fascinating facts about the cast.
Taraji P. Henson (Cookie)
The character name “Cookie” didn’t come out of thin air… it was actually Henson’s real-life nickname in college.
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Co-creator Danny Strong says of Henson, “She’ll improvise stuff and it’ll be hysterical.” Case in point? The infamous “goat ass” line. Totally Taraji.
Taraji P. Henson, continued
Co-creator Danny Strong says of Henson, “She’ll improvise stuff and it’ll be hysterical.” Case in point? The infamous “goat ass” line. Totally Taraji.
Taraji P. Henson, continued
Co-creator Danny Strong says of Henson, “She’ll improvise stuff and it’ll be hysterical.” Case in point? The infamous “goat ass” line. Totally Taraji.
Terrence Howard (Lucious)
Like many of Empire‘s cast members, Howard is musically inclined. In addition to breaking ground in Hustle & Flow, he released a solo album in 2008.
Terrence Howard, continued
Before show biz, Howard studied chemical engineering and wanted to be a science teacher. Here he is with a light sculpture of his own invention.
Terrence Howard, continued
Before show biz, Howard studied chemical engineering and wanted to be a science teacher. Here he is with a light sculpture of his own invention.
Jussie Smollett (Jamal)
We’ll be hearing much more of Smollett. “I signed to Columbia. So, darling,” [laughs] “I’m label-mates with Beyoncé and Adele and Barbra Streisand.”
Jussie Smollett, continued
Smollett isn’t the only famous face in his fam. Several of his siblings act, including Jurnee Smollett-Bell (Friday Night Lights, True Blood).
Jussie Smollett, continued
Smollett isn’t the only famous face in his fam. Several of his siblings act, including Jurnee Smollett-Bell (Friday Night Lights, True Blood).
Bryshere Y. Gray (Hakeem)
Probably not much of a surprise, but Gray is the real deal. In the rap world, he goes by Yazz the Greatest and has opened for 2 Chainz.
Bryshere Y. Gray, continued
Despite his character’s flashy persona, Gray insists, “I’m not like Hakeem at all. Of course, the sway is still there, though.”
Bryshere Y. Gray, continued
Despite his character’s flashy persona, Gray insists, “I’m not like Hakeem at all. Of course, the sway is still there, though.”
Trai Byers (Andre)
A devout Christian, Byers considered becoming a pastor when he wasn’t booking any roles. “I really contemplated changing,” he says.
Trai Byers, continued
He can sing and play the saxophone, the latter of which he shows off as Nathan Davis in the movie Jayhawkers.
Trai Byers, continued
He can sing and play the saxophone, the latter of which he shows off as Nathan Davis in the movie Jayhawkers.
Grace Gealey (Anika)
You may never guess it from listening to the show, but Gealey was raised in the Cayman Islands until she was 18 and has a very thick accent.
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Gealey loves sharing scenes with Howard, naturally. But she confesses she is “in awe” of co-star Henson.
Grace Gealey, continued
Gealey loves sharing scenes with Howard, naturally. But she confesses she is “in awe” of co-star Henson.
Kaitlin Doubleday (Rhonda)
And, hey, Doubleday has some big news on the romance front — she just got hitched too! Earlier this year, she and boyfriend Devin Lucien got engaged in Paris and, on May 6 of this year, tied the knot during a swoon-worthy ceremony in Big Sur, California.
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An avid animal lover, Doubleday is a vegetarian and sums up her extracurriculars as “obsessed with saving animals.”
Serayah (Tiana)
Like Gray, her once-boyfriend on the show, acting is new for Serayah. Empire is her first and, thus far, only major role.
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Serayah sang “Style” alongside Taylor Swift in Chicago. And that’s not all — Serayah is part of her posse, even appearing in Tay’s “Bad Blood” video.
Gabourey Sidibe (Becky)
Sidibe shut down rumors she’d been fired, saying, “I’m not in every episode of #Empire because I was shooting #AmericanHorrorStory at the same time. Fired?!”
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Half Senegalese on her father’s side, Sidibe boasts a grandfather who was the mayor of Dakar, the capital of Senegal.
Ta’Rhonda Jones (Porsha)
Cookie’s sassy assistant on the show, Jones does her own hair and makeup because Lee Daniels liked her authenticity.
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Before Empire, Jones worked as an assistant director of nutritional services in a Chicago-area nursing home.
BRE-Z (Freda Gatz)
Not only is BRE-Z an accomplished rapper who got her start at the tender age of 14, but she is also a top-notch barber. In 2008, when she moved to Atlanta, Georgia, she landed a job as one of Atlanta’s well-known celebrity barbers — a craft she’d been developing since she was 12.
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