23 Photos Of The 'Empire' Cast Where The Actors Look Nothing Like The Characters You Know & Love

This is not a look I would expect to see on Lucious Lyon. His hair and wardrobe is pretty prim and proper. This is a little to free spirited for the Empire character.

I had no idea Gabourey Sidibe ever rocked braids. Nevertheless, I have to say that she looks adorable with this hairstyle.

I just cannot picture Grace Gealey out of her Anika mode. It’s so strange for me to see the actress looking casual in this hat. Boo Boo Kitty would never dress so casually, let alone in public.

I feel like Rhonda is always looking super fierce and in real life Kaitlin Doubleday looks so sweet and innocent with her choppy bangs.

I feel like Jussie Smollett hasn’t rocked the facial hair on Empire because it would age him a little bit. But in real life, I’m feeling this look on the actor.

Howard looks like he’s ready for a white party in the Hamptons or a day at the beach. His alter ego Lucious Lyon is usually dressed to the nines, so this extremely casual look is definitely throwing me off.

Big hair and fierceness are a big part of Cookie Lyon’s essence. Henson looks super hot with the short hairdo, but I just couldn’t picture Cookie with this style.

Again, Rhonda looks so sweet! And she’s with Justin Long…?

Sidibe looks a few years younger with her innocent bow headband. I just cannot picture Becky wearing this around the Empire office.

Yes, that is Taraji P. Henson. I had to do a double take, too. She looks like a totally different person with her giant afro in I Can Do Bad All By Myself

Image: Lionsgate

Terrence Howard looks so different with these ’70s style sunglasses. Did he travel back in time or something?

My girl Taraji looks completely different with all of these curls and blonde highlights.

Terrence Howard has so many random hairstyles that I’m so thrown off when I can't even see his hair. He does not look like the dapper, suave gentleman that we know and love when he’s wearing this hat.

If I wasn’t told that this photo was of Kaitlin Doubleday, I would have never guessed. She looks so young and fresh faced. Plus, those straight across bangs!

Image: Lionsgate

Again with the headbands! Becky would never!

I feel like Lucious would never wear a hat like this in public. There’s just nothing fierce about it.

I’m getting a high school dance sort of vibe from Cookie here.

I’ve never seen Gabourey Sidibe with her hair up. It’s nice to see more of that face though. The girl looks good.

Terrence Howard looks totally different with his hair slicked back. And you know we’re all thinking of the same Mean Girls reference right now: “His hair is so sexy pushed back.”

Henson definitely took on a different style when she was in The Curious Case of Benjamin Button.

Image: Paramount Pictures

Long hair AND a goatee?!

I’ve seen a lot of Terrence Howard hairstyles, but this is probably the most shocking because his hair is pretty much gone here.