Porsha Empire’s TaRhonda Jones was not aware that she was auditioning for the TV series Empire and did not know that Lee Daniels was the producer that was demanding her to leave following her audition.
Ta’Rhonda Jones is a regular on Fox’s Empire, where she plays Porsha Taylor, Cookie Lyon’s assistant. Jones had no acting experience and worked at a Chicago nursing home prior to Empire. A nursing home that she was suspended from for two weeks because she lost her temper: Jones’ purse was stolen and it contained all the money she had at the time.
Jones received a phone call from her brother in the middle of the night and he informed her that they were looking for female rapper for a new Terrence Howard TV show. Lee Daniels was at Jones’ audition yet she was not recognize the producer but remembers the pajamas he wore during the audition.
Jones originally auditioned for the role of Tiana Brown on Empire. Lee Daniels fell in love with Jones’ personality and insisted for her to leave after her audition yet Jones attempted to convince Daniels that she was the right individual to play the role. Tiana Brown eventually went to Serayah McNeill with Jones instead getting cast as Porsha Taylor.
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| Porsha Empire Ta’Rhonda Jones |
Porsha Taylor, Cookie’s assistant on Empire has quickly become a fan favorite. Jones graduated from Chicago’s Simeon Career Academy in 2006, a year before NBA star Derrick Rose graduated from the school.
Following high school, Jones worked at supermarket Jewel-Osco in Chicago Lawn while she designed clothes and began rapping as Lady Heroin, a name she chose from the Eddie Murphy film, Harlem Nights.
Empire is Jones first major television role but she also guest starred in an April episode of Chicago P.D. TaRhonda Jones held numerous positions prior to the hit show Empire, Lee Daniels is now the actresses boss and she is in great hands!
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| Porsha Empire Ta’Rhonda Jones |