Five Fast Facts About Empire Star Gabourey Sidibe

Gabourey Sidibe currently stars as Becky Williams on Fox show Empire, but she’s also made a name for herself in a number of other shows and films. From Precious to American Horror Story, Sidibe has proven herself as a force in this industry.

Not to mention, Sidibe is also a director and even got behind the camera for a recent episode of Empire! From the boy band she’s obsessed with to the actress who told her to quit Hollywood, here are five fast facts you need to know about Gabourey Sidibe.

In The Beginning
Sidibe was born in Brooklyn, New York, but she was raised in Harlem. She went to a community college in New York and worked as a receptionist before she got into acting. Her mother is an R&B and gospel singer who appeared on the fifth season of America’s Got Talent!

Number One Fan
This may come as a big surprise to some, but Sidibe is actually a huge fan of the boy band *NSYNC. And, not only is she a massive fan, she’s actually attended 23 of their concerts! Now that’s one dedicated superfan!

First Film
While some actors have to work many years before ever earning an Oscar nomination, Sidibe hit it out of the park on her first try in the film Precious. She landed the title role in the 2009 film and went on to receive a great deal of critical acclaim.

Shocking Celebrity Encounter
Sidibe once revealed in an interview on Watch What Happens Live that just a few months before she actually landed her breakthrough role in Precious, Joan Cusack told her to quit the business. In fact, Cusack reportedly told her to quit because Hollywood is so “image-conscious.” Sidibe added that Cusack “meant it in a good way.”

Health Issue
Unfortunately, Sidibe was diagnosed with Type 2 diabetes in March 2017. Because of the diagnosis, she was forced to undergo laparoscopic bariatric surgery in order to help her lose weight. Since then, she has been focused on exercising and eating well in order to stay healthy.