FOX’s perceived attempt of “expanding” Empire‘s fan base has culminated with Academy Award-winning actress Marisa Tomei joining the fold.
Via Deadline:
Fox smash Empire is adding to the list of high-profile guest star/recurring players for Season 2. Marisa Tomei, whose Oscar-winning role as Mona Lisa Vito in My Cousin Viinny can rival Taraji P. Henson’s Cookie in the sass department, has signed on for a multi-episode arc on the hip-hop series. She will play Mimi Whiteman, a demanding venture capitalist who becomes involved in Lyon family drama. A Forbes list billionairess, Mimi is a lover of hip hop music, social trends, high-end fashion and beautiful women.
This marks a rare TV series gig for Tomei, who previously did an arc on FX’s Rescue Me. She also is developing a Gloria Steinem miniseries at HBO under her first-look deal with the pay cable network. Tomei is set to star as the famous feminist in the project, which she is producing alongside George Clooney. On the feature side, Tomei will next be seen in CBS Films’ Love The Coopers.
Marisa Tomei joins the list of celebrities including Zac Efron, Chris Rock and Alicia Keys who will be giving Empire even more star power in season two. The run will either be very successful or very muddled; no in-between’s.
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Photo: Brian To/WENN
