‘Empire’ Star Jussie Smollet On Being Jamal Lyon And Finding Fame

Best known for his role as Lucious Lyon’s gay son, Jamal, in Fox’s “Empire,” Jussie Smollett is now enjoying the fame that the hit show has brought him. Still in awe with the massive success of the show, the California-borne star admitted that he personally messaged Lee Daniels, “Empire” showrunner, that he is Jamal Lyon the moment he got the script.

Smollett got a little taste of fame when he appeared in 1992’s “The Mighty Ducks” starring opposite Emilio Estevez, Joshua Jackson, Joss Ackland, Lane Smith and Brandon Adams. He also starred in the short-lived ABC sitcom “On Our Own” where he played alongside five of his brothers – Jojo, Jazz, Jurnee, Jake and Jocqui. All of them starred as siblings on the 1994 TV series.

“I used to hear people say nobody can prepare you for fame, and it’s actually very true,” Smollett told Chicago Tribune. “But there is such beauty that comes with it when you’re able to use your platform in a positive way. Right now we’re able to use our platform to slightly make change in the world, if that’s what we want to do, which it is, because people are listening. … That’s the most incredible thing to be able to do.”

Now that the show is gearing up for Season 2, Smollett hinted that the upcoming season will make Season 1 look like the “Brady Brunch.” Together with co-star Bryshere Gray (Hakeem Lyon), the Smollett returned to Chicago on Friday, March 27, to sign copies of the “Empire” soundtrack in an auditorium packed with adoring fans at the Harold Washington Cultural Centre.

The actor who came out as gay in a backstage interview with Ellen DeGeneres told the publication that his life is completely different after the show’s Season 1. He admitted that people started to recognise them after “Empire” premiered in January 7 with the best ratings for a Fox series premiere.

Meanwhile, Smollett’s Jamal is in for a big surprise as both of his brothers, Hakeem and Andre (Trai Byers) and his mother Cookie (Taraji P. Henson) are planning a hostile takeover of Empire Entertainment. Fans of the show will just have to watch out for Jamal’s next move now that Lucious is behind bars.

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