Created by Oscar nominee Lee Daniels, sound-tracked by Timbaland and dripping in melodrama, Empire has had record breaking viewing figures in the States - and is about to become the TV event of the year when it launches on E4 tomorrow evening.
With storylines involving the feud between a first wife and her usurper, a black sheep gay son and his scheming bipolar brother (as well as Naomi Campbell moon-lighting as the most audacious cougar since Madonna snogged Drake), perhaps it’s no surprise that the story of a hip hop empire gone to war has been heralded as ‘the black Dynasty’. It’s Nashville meets King Lear, and it’s must-see TV.
The action centres on the reappearance of reformed drug pusher Cookie Lyon – played with lustre by Taraji P. Henson – a straight-talking, broom-wielding sass pot who makes Lil’ Kim look like a wallflower (more on whom later). Speaking to Grazia in London, Taraji, 44, agrees that Empire breaks brave new ground. ‘When I read the script I couldn’t believe that a primetime network was going to put it on television’, she says. ‘When we began filming, Lee would be saying ‘Oh My God, what are we doing’, and I’d reply, ‘I don’t know, but I’m glad to be a part of it!’
Describing Cookie, Taraji says: ‘She’s a powerhouse woman. People gravitate towards her because she does and says the things that other people are afraid to do or say.’ So much so, that to ‘Cookie’ someone is fast becoming a verb. ‘I just had a woman tweeting me saying ‘I have a board meeting today, and I’m going to go in and Cookie them’, she laughs.
One famous fan is Lil’ Kim, who direct messaged Taraji about a guest role after hearing that she was Cookie’s hero. ‘I was like, ‘trust me girl I’m working on it’’, says Taraji. ‘That would break the internet.’ If her plan comes to pass, Kim would join season one guest stars Courtney Love and Naomi Campbell.
‘She was pretty down-to-Earth’, says Taraji of Naomi. ‘I complimented her shoes and two days later a pair arrived for me. But she didn’t tell me where she got that hair from. That’s alright Miss Naomi, I understand gurl!’
‘Empire’ starts 28 April at 9pm, E4