She then earned a Master’s of Fine Arts in acting from the University of California, Irvine. She moved to New York City and starred in Off-Broadway productions including Rent. Since 2015 Gealey has starred as Anika Calhoun in the TV series Empire. She was nominated for a Teen Choice Award in 2015 for Choice TV: Chemistry and was nominated for an Image Award in 2016 for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Drama Series.