Cast Members Taraji P. Henson, Terrence Howard, Directors Lee Daniels And Danny Strong From The Television Series 'Empire'
(L-R) Cast members Bryshere Gray, Jussie Smolett, Trai Byers, Taraji P. Henson, Terrence Howard, directors Lee Daniels and Danny Strong, producers Ilene Chaiken and Francie Calfo from the television series "Empire" take part in Fox Broadcasting Company's part of the Television Critics Association (TCA) Winter 2015 presentations in Pasadena, California, January 17, 2015. Reuters/Kevork Djansezian

“Empire” stars Taraji P. Henson and Jussie Smollett attended an inaugural event on Saturday, Oct. 24, in Los Angeles. During the event, Henson mentioned Beyonce’s onstage alter ego, Sasha Fierece, when she talked about how her “Empire” character Cookie has changed her.

Henson told Entertainment Weekly during the EW Fest panel that Cookie Lyon is like her alter ego. She joked, “She’s my Sasha Fierce.”

During the event, Henson also talked about how she influenced the casting process of “Empire.” She joked that she “kinda meant it” when she told Lee Daniels that she and Terrence Howard would not do the show if Smollett would not play Jamal Lyon.

Aside from Smollett, Henson also insisted that Howard should play Lucious Lyon. She said the role had to be Howard's and explained that they have that kind of relationship and they trust each other.

In 2005, Henson and Howard co-starred in “Hustle & Flow,” which was written and directed by Craig Brewer. The crime drama film also starred “Furious 7” star Ludacris, who plays Officer McKnight in “Empire.”

Henson also revealed that she earlier hesitated to do another TV show. Before playing Cookie Lyon, she played Whitney Rome in “Boston Legal” and Joss Carter in “Person of Interest.”

For Henson, television always felt like a caged little box and is a genre for the writers. She explained that she is a true artist who needs to be free, allowed to breathe and not caged since that's what art is supposed to be.

However, when Henson read the “Empire” script while she was doing theatre work, she decided to do the project because she knew it would benefit her career. She said she only chooses projects that have a great impact on her and has the potential to change her.

Aside from Henson and Smollett, other TV series stars also attended the EW Fest. “Scream Queens” stars Lea Michele, Keke Palmer and Emma Roberts as well as “American Horror Story: Hotel's” Kathy Bates and Matt Bomer were also at the event, Just Jared reports.

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