THEY are a force to be reckoned with – on and off air!
And they are in the country to promote their much talked about show,Empire.
Co-stars Terrence Howard and Taraji Henson play the roles of Lucious and Cookie Lyon in the American musical drama series based in New York.
It is about hip hop music and the entertainment company Empire Entertainment, and the drama among the founders’ family as they fight for control of the company.
The two co-stars have good on-screen chemistry.
In an interview last year they admitted to having a deep love for one another, just like their characters.
“When I read the script, I was like, ‘This is that deep love that you can’t explain, that you just see and Terrence and I have that for each other,” said Taraji.
Yesterday the two said at M-Net City in Randburg, Gauteng that during their flight they spoke about the meaning of the trip to them as African Americans.
“There was a sense of homecoming and sadness at the same time for both of us,” said Terrence. Taraji added she even forced her 20-year-old son Marcel Henson to come with her to experience Africa.
The two spoke about the effect the show has had in promoting African American culture and driving discussions on issues like homosexuality, money, prison and drugs.
Terrence, who once played the role of boxing giant Muhammed Ali in the movie King Of The World, said he was saddened by the boxer’s death.
He said: “It is an incredible loss to the world. This is what he told me 25 years ago: If you are made in God’s image you have to see the God in you. Not just some small parts in you, but in the whole of you. So you need to be in love and worship yourself.”
