Naomi Campbell boards 'Empire'

The 44-year-old actress and supermodel will play a recurring character on the new hip hop drama "Empire," which premieres early next year on FOX.

Hailing from Lee Daniels and Danny Strong ("The Butler"), "Empire" centers on Lucious Lyon (Terrence Howard), a former music star turned hip hop industry mogul. Diagnosed with a terminal illness, he must choose which of his three sons will take his place at the head of his record label. Stopping at nothing to protect his dynasty, he faces additional pressure from his ex-wife Cookie (Taraji P. Henson), who is back on the scene after serving close to two decades in jail.

Naomi Campbell will play Camilla, a seductive woman having a torrid affair with the potential heir to the Lyon family business, which dominates the global hip hop industry.

"Naomi is a beautiful actress. Underrated in my mind," said Daniels. "She will be wonderful as Camilla. I am truly thrilled to have one of my close friends join us."

The role will not be Campbell’s first on FOX. In 1995, the actress appeared in multiple episodes of the network’s drama “New York Undercover.”