‘Empire’ season 2 star Grace Gealey says she needs to play roles with substance

Grace Gealey recently revealed that she was previously offered two different roles that she was not able to do. She is one of the breakout stars of “Empire” Season 2, in which she plays Anika Calhoun, also referred to as Boo Boo Kitty by Taraji P. Henson’s character, Cookie Lyon.

In a recent interview with Sirius Radio show “Sway in the Morning,” Gealey explained that she was not able to do one role because of scheduling conflicts and the other because of the role’s lack of substance. “It's very important to not be pigeonholed,” she said.

As a woman of colour, Gealey said she needs to carefully pick her roles. Because she takes both her career and the roles she play very seriously, she said she will not accept acting jobs that label her as “the pretty one.”

Gealey also pointed out that her success as an actress did not take place overnight. While she is grateful for the new opportunities “Empire” has opened for her, the actress emphasised that she needs to play a character that is not merely attractive but has integrity.

In the Fox hit series “Empire,” Gealey plays the former fiancée of Lucious Lyon (Terrence Howard). Lucious Lyon is the father of Andre Lyon, played by Gealey’s real-life fiancé Trai Byers.

Meanwhile, Kaitlin Doubleday plays Andre Lyon’s wife, Rhonda Lyon, in “Empire.” The sophomore season of the Fox hit series also stars Jussie Smollett, Bryshere Y. Gray, Serayah McNeill, Gabourey Sidibe and Ta’Rhonda Jones, among others.

In the episode of the new talk show “FABLife,” which will air on Oct. 7, Wednesday, Gealey will officially announce her engagement to Byers, according to E! News. The talk show is hosted by “America’s Next Top Model” cycle 22 host and judge Tyra Banks, along with model Chrissy Teigen, fashion stylist Joe Zee, interior designer Lauren Makk and YouTube star Leah Ashley.

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