"EMPIRE" CASTING DIRECTOR LEAH DANIELS BUTLER PRAISES BREAKOUT STARS FOR SHOWS SUCCESS

buzzz worthy. . .#empire

Taraji Henson, Terrance Howard, Malik Yoba, Along With Breakout Stars Bryshere Y. Gray, Jussie Smollet, Kaitlin Doubleday and Ta'Rhonda Jones Receive Praise For  Performances

Before the stars of Empire captivated viewers, someone had to find the right match for each role.  Meet casting director, Leah Daniels Butler, the sis of the shw's producer, Lee Daniels.

 

(Hollywood, CA) -- The water cooler conversations this week about the hottest new show on television, "Empire", are not about storylines, plot twists or even the season's breakout stars but Leah Daniels Butler feels the actors deserve to be the story. 

Casting Director for "Empire", Daniels Butler also cast roles for "The Butler" and discovered talents like Gaborey Sidebey, a a then unknown actor who starred in the Academy Award winning film "Precious".  At the same time, she is sister to Director Lee Daniels, which gives her unique insight on how actors are chosen for roles in his projects.

"Rather than focus on who is not on "Empire" we should be celebrating the actors who are doing amazing work week after week," says Daniels Butler.  "Fans are in love with Cookie (Taraji P. Henson) and Lucious (Terrance Howard) because the actors who give life to the characters they portray are delivering award winning performances."

Daniels Butler goes on to praise the work of breakout star Bryshere Y. Gray, who plays heartthrob and resident bad boy Hakeem Lyons, for his "growth as an actor" and believes Ta'Rhonda Jones is "enormously talented" and applauds her musicianship.  However, it is Malik Yoba's "powerful performance" as Vernon Turner that seems to make Daniels Butler beam just a bit.

"I am so proud of Malik, he is a veteran actor and knows exactly what his character needs to succeed, she said."  "There so many wonderful people that help make this show a #1, like the fantastic job Jussie Smollet (Jamal Lyons) is doing, and I cannot say enough about Kaitlin Doubleday (Rhonda Lyons) who had the unique challenge of filling a diversity role and does it seamlessly.  Why not celebrate those people?"