It will be a few months before we’re reunited with Cookie and Lucious Lyon again, but anytime “Empire” stars Taraji P. Henson, and Terrence Howard get together, we’re in for a good time. The duo recently appeared on the cover of Emmy magazine and the spread from their photo shoot is flawless. Inside of the issue, they discuss the breakout success of the FOX series and their beloved characters, who quickly became household names. Check out some highlights from their interview below.
On why “Empire” is such a big hit
Henson: “We don’t gloss anything up. We do and say things that a lot of people know are really happening in real life.”
Howard: “We’ve abandoned the idea of P.C., political correctness, for just being honest about what’s really taking place in the world… with some entertainment involved in it.”
On the series bringing families together
Henson: “I get a lot of tweets from people saying, ‘Finally, we have family night in our house because everyone’s watching.’”
On the inspiration behind Cookie Lyon
Henson: “She’s based on many women I know. She’s based on my father… he was just one of those guys who just didn’t have a buffer, and people respected him for that.”
On finding inspiration for Lucious Lyon in Genghis Khan, Alexander the Great, and Julius Caesar
Howard: “When they were in the middle of accomplishing their goals, they were tyrants… The last name is Lyon for a reason. You have to maintain that majestic composure and comportment, and be king of the jungle.”
On the overwhelming success of “Empire”
Howard: “I didn’t know that the American public was really ready to tackle some of these issues that we’re tackling, especially the African-American population. With the homophobia that runs through there, I didn’t think a lot of the scenes that we’ve had would be welcome. I thought 20 minutes in[to the first episode], by the time they had the first [same-sex] kiss, it would be a wrap. Everybody would change the channel.”
On their history and chemistry:
Howard: “I love Taraji, but she’s a 10-foot-tall man inside. … She needs [to have] the last word, the last look, and I don’t know how to give up any ground.”
“I told her, ‘You will never steal a frame from me. And don’t you let me take a frame from you.’ That’s our thing with each other. It’s [like] the Thrilla in Manila. We’ll keep battling until somebody dies.”
On the popularity of Cookie Lyon and Taraji’s Dad prophesying her success before his death:
Henson: “He was like, ‘Baby, that ain’t nothin’. You are going to be a sensation. He was looking off into the distance, and I think he saw what was coming.”
“At the time, I was like, ‘What you see? Shoot, I want to see it! Time went on, and I’m getting older. I ain’t no spring chicken. I’m thinking, ‘Maybe the Oscar [nod] was it.’ Then [Empire] comes along, and it blows up, and it’s like, ‘Okay, Daddy, this is what you were talking about.’ He saw this moment right here.”
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