'Empire' Casting Director, Leah Daniels Butler, Praises Cast For Show's Breakout Success

As Fox’s hit television series “Empire” continues to draw major ratings and attract notable celebrity guests, co-creator Lee Daniels has piqued fan’s interest over the show’s next rumored surprise cameo.

However despite the anticipation for the A-List celeb appearances, Daniels’ sister and casting director, Leah Daniels Butler feels the focus of the series and its success should be credited to the cast, which is led by Terrence Howard and Taraji P. Henson.

"Rather than focus on who is not on ‘Empire’ we should be celebrating the actors who are doing amazing work week after week," Daniels Butler said in a press release. "Fans are in love with Cookie and Lucious because the actors who give life to the characters they portray are delivering award winning performances."

"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,” she added. “Why not celebrate those people?"

After discovering the likes of Gabourey Sidibe for the lead role in 2009’s “Precious,” Daniels-Butler also went on to praise the “growth” of breakout star Bryshere Y. Gray and applauded the musicianship of the “enormously talented" Ta'Rhonda Jones. Her praise for the ensemble of “Empire” comes less than two weeks following actress-comedienne Mo’Nique claiming she was allegedly the first choice to portray the role of Henson’s character, "Cookie."

“Empire” co-creator, Danny Strong has since disputed Mo’Nique’s claims;