Honestly, walking onto the set of a Lee Daniels production must feel like entering a beautiful, high-stakes fever dream. If you watched the Fox musical drama Star during its three-season run from 2016 to 2019, you know exactly what I mean. It wasn't just a show; it was a gritty, glittering, Atlanta-based soap opera that tried to do for the girl group what Empire did for the hip-hop dynasty. But while the music was catchy, the cast of Lee Daniels Star was the real reason we kept coming back every Wednesday night.
They weren't just actors reading lines. They were singers, dancers, and survivors.
The Core Trio: Take 3
The show lived and died by the chemistry of its central girl group, Take 3. Lee Daniels didn't just pick names out of a hat; he held a massive nationwide search to find girls who could actually carry a tune and handle the heavy, often traumatic storylines he’s known for.
Jude Demorest (Star Davis) Jude wasn't some Hollywood legacy kid. She grew up in a very religious Detroit household, attending church seven days a week, which she credit for her performance training. She auditioned ten times for this role. Ten. Lee Daniels actually rejected her initially because she didn't speak Spanish (a requirement for an Empire role she tried for earlier), but he eventually saw that "it factor" in her. Since the show ended, Jude has focused on being a mom—she has three kids now—and has continued her songwriting career. Did you know she co-wrote Fifth Harmony's massive hit "Work From Home"?
Ryan Destiny (Alexandra Crane) Alexandra was the "rich girl" of the group, trying to escape the shadow of her legendary father (played by Lenny Kravitz, no less). In real life, Ryan Destiny is basically the personification of "cool." She actually booked a role on Empire first but had to turn it down due to a label contract. Talk about a sliding doors moment. Since Star wrapped, she’s stayed busy with a recurring role on Grown-ish and recently starred as Olympic boxer Claressa Shields in the biopic The Fire Inside.
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Brittany O’Grady (Simone Davis) The younger, more vulnerable sister, Simone, had some of the darkest arcs in the show. Brittany O’Grady has arguably had the most "prestige" post-show career. You probably saw her in the first season of HBO’s The White Lotus as Paula, the cynical college student. It was a massive departure from the R&B world of Atlanta, proving she’s got some serious range.
The Veterans and the Groundbreakers
You can't talk about the cast of Lee Daniels Star without mentioning the heavy hitters who gave the show its soul.
Queen Latifah (Carlotta Brown) Latifah was the glue. Playing a salon owner and former R&B star, she brought a maternal but "don't mess with me" energy that only a legend could. Her character’s relationship with her trans daughter, Cotton, provided some of the most moving moments in network TV history at the time.
Amiyah Scott (Cotton Brown) This was a huge deal. Amiyah Scott became one of the first openly transgender people to play a major trans character on a scripted drama. Before the show, she was a fixture in the Atlanta ballroom scene and a social media star. Her portrayal of Cotton wasn't a caricature; it was a nuanced look at identity, faith, and family.
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Benjamin Bratt (Jahil Rivera) Every musical drama needs a sketchy manager, and Benjamin Bratt played Jahil with a perfect mix of charm and desperation. He was the guy you wanted to root for even when he was making the worst possible decisions.
Why the Cast Felt Different
Most TV casts feel like they’re just "at work." The Star crew felt like they were in the trenches together. Maybe it was the original music—songs like "I Bring Me" and "Whatcha Gonna Do"—that required them to record in studios and rehearse choreography like a real group.
The supporting cast was equally wild. You had Quincy Brown (Diddy’s son) playing Derek, the activist love interest. You had Luke James joining later as Noah Brooks, bringing that real-deal R&B vocal power to the screen. Even the guest stars were insane: Naomi Campbell, Patti LaBelle, and Brandy all showed up to stir the pot.
What Happened to the Finale?
It still stings, doesn't it? The show was cancelled in 2019 on a massive cliffhanger. People were getting shot, weddings were being ruined—it was peak Lee Daniels chaos.
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There were rumors of a wrap-up movie for years. Lee Daniels himself posted on Instagram multiple times saying he was trying to make it happen. He even said at one point, "the next thing I do is gon' be Star." But as of 2026, the industry has shifted. The girls have moved on to massive solo projects. While we might never get that final TV movie, the impact of the cast of Lee Daniels Star remains. They pushed boundaries on representation and brought a specific kind of "Black Girl Magic" to prime-time Fox that hasn't quite been replaced.
How to Keep Up With the Cast
If you're missing the Take 3 energy, here’s what you should do:
- Watch The Fire Inside: See Ryan Destiny absolutely transform into a world-class athlete.
- Binge The White Lotus Season 1: Witness Brittany O'Grady's incredible transition into deadpan satire.
- Check out Jude Demorest’s Socials: She often shares snippets of new music and glimpses into her life as a mother of three.
- Listen to the Soundtrack: The "Star Season 1" album is still a certified gem for any R&B fan.
The show might be over, but the talent Lee Daniels assembled for that specific moment in Atlanta was lightning in a bottle.