"Empire" Star Turns the Page on Bullying With New Children's Book
Grace Byers' character Anika has seen plenty of twists and turns during her four-season run on "Empire," but it's the actress' own childhood that inspired her to write her first children's book. Byers joins Cheddar to discuss what she hopes young people get out of "I Am Enough."
She takes us back to her years growing up in the Cayman Islands as a multiracial child of hearing-impaired parents. Despite featuring illustrations of female characters, Byers says the book is meant to empower children of all genders. She recounts a story of a near-death experience and how it changed her outlook on life. The star also tells us what it's like playing a character prone to bullying others.
"Empire" shattered expectations for what's possible from a network television show. Byers reveals whether she thinks the series is changing the model for success in the streaming era. She also gives her take on what the series finale might entail at some point down the road.
President of Champagne Laurent-Perrier U.S. Michelle DeFeo discusses how she got started in the French wine industry, why she's proud to work for a women-owned brand, and the secret to perfectly opening a bottle of champagne every time.
The 2023 South by Southwest Conference and Festival is in full swing and Cheddar News has the highlights on the biggest forthcoming innovations in tech, music and film. With the success of Everything Everywhere All at Once, which premiered at SXSW last year, this award season, all eyes are on the next big project to come out of the festival. Some of the most anticipated films include Problemista, You Sing Loud, I Sing Loud and Joy Ride. Keanu Reeves' John Wick 4 also premiered during the festival and received rave reviews.