In 1996, she appeared in the film Beautiful Thing as Leah Russell, the next-door neighbour of the main characters.

Empson worked alongside Linda Henry, both of whom would eventually join the cast of EastEnders; in 1998 she appeared as the love rival to the main character in the film Babymother.

[7] Empson confirmed on Loose Women that the break was her maternity leave for her second child, and that she did not deliberately keep it a secret, but that she "just wanted to enjoy it".

[8] Empson is a regular performer at the Hackney Empire starring in the theatre's annual pantomime since 2004; she has also starred in Anansi and the Magic Mirror and has a live sketch and comedy show (The Kat and Tameka Show) with Choice FM DJ Kat B.

[9] Later that year, she appeared as a panellist on The Apprentice: You're Fired,[10] and voiced the role of Pearl the Police Horse on the Disney Channel series 101 Dalmatian Street.