As the FOX break out hit, Empire, gears up for the show’s 18 episode second season, producers are on the hunt for a “baby-faced actress” to play the recurring role of Betty Barz.
Betty, a “moody, outspoken” teenage rapper, is set to be introduced in the Sept. 23 premiere (9/8c on Fox), titled, “The Devils Are Here,” written by executive producers Danny Strong and Ilene Chaiken.
According to TV Line:
Betty, who’s also known as “Betty Gathers” and “The Queen O’ 16S” is described as African-American, “unapologetically butch,” and something of a hometown hero in her “Brownsville-Never-Ran-Never-Will, Brooklyn” neighborhood. Her undeniable talent has led to her winning “more rhyme battles and girls’ hearts than the best male vets on her block.” (We’re guessing “winning girls’ hearts” means the new character is a lesbian, but then again, maybe that just means most of her mixtape buyers are female?)
Despite the fact that Betty is “charismatic and witty with a street lean,” though, the road to possible fame — via a deal with Empire Entertainment’s new CEO Jamal, perhaps? — won’t necessarily be a smooth one. In fact, her “deep fears push her toward self-sabotage” — and prevent her from fully turning her back on the streets.
Betty is also the daughter of an incarcerated drug kingpin, “Pops,” who is the only one who the hard headed rapper will heed. Sounds interesting! Maybe she and Jamal will be kindred spirits…
TV Line is also reporting a time jump between seasons 1 and 2. Lucious will still be in prison, but that doesn’t mean he’s lost control of the empire. “Lucious can do what he does no matter where he is,” Ilene Chalkin told TV Line at Empire‘s recent Emmy FYC panel. “Lucious, basically, has tentacles.”
The actress eventually cast to play Betty will join Empire’s other new guest stars, CSI: Miami‘s Adam Rodriguez, comedian Chris Rock, R&B superstar Alicia Keys and rock singer Lenny Kravitz.
