‘Power Book II: Ghost’: Who Is Effie & Who Plays Her?

Ever since Power premiered in 2014, it amassed a huge following, which led to the show’s expansion into somewhat of a universe. Power Book II: Ghost is a spinoff about some of the most controversial Power characters, and one of them is Effie. She appeared briefly in Power and Power Book II Season 1 before being promoted to a regular role. But, who is Effie, and who plays her?

Effie Morales is a character from the so-called Power-verse, a cinematic universe of several spinoff series revolving around the characters from the highly successful show Power. Effie is a bold character walking a thin line between being an anti-hero and an antagonist and is portrayed by the talented Alix Lapri.

Alix was actually most known for her music, being a singer and songwriter. However, she had worked with 50 Cent – the producer of the Power-verse – closely on a movie called Den of Thieves, and now they worked together again. Effie is an amazing, layered character, so let’s explore it a bit more, as well as Lapri, the actress behind the character.

Who is Effie Morales?

Effie Morales is a female character that first appeared in the TV series called Power. In the final season of Power, she appeared briefly in a minor role, only to appear again in the first season of Power Book II: Ghost, which is a spinoff show about Tariq St. Patrick, the son of James ‘Ghost’ St. Patrick.

In Season 2 of Power Book II, Effie became a series regular and basically the season’s main anti-hero, while in the third season, she took more of an antagonistic role. But who is she, and why is the character so polarizing and complex? Let’s start from the beginning.

Effie first appeared as Tariq’s love interest in Choate – a school they both attended. Interestingly, Choate Rosemary Hall actually exists as a school in Connecticut, but it’s unsure if it’s the same school as the one in the show.

Anyways, Effie first attacked Tariq when she found out he was selling drugs it the campus, but eventually, they started working together and formed somewhat of a relationship. It fell apart when Effie betrayed Tariq for her own gain, revealing his business and getting him expelled from Choate.

Fast forward to Season 1 of Power Book II: Ghost, Effie attends Yale University, where she meets Tariq again. Effie was ready to make amends with Tariq, but he refused despite her trying to explain herself and the reasons why she did what she did. Later, she returns to Tariq’s room to ask for help, making his new girlfriend, Lauren, jealous.

Tariq tells her he doesn’t deal anymore, but after getting into debt with the wrong crowd, he has no choice but to contact Effie and work with her to pay his debts. Their relationship somewhat rekindles for a moment.

However, Tariq is forced to lie to her to protect her, so Effie gets angry and leaves to continue attending Yale. When he meets up with her to apologize and explain, Effie accepts, and they kiss yet again.

Now, in Season 2, her role gets more regular, and fans can’t hide their excitement. Effie teaches Diana the game, and they share deeper conversations, but Effie warns Diana not to get too close to Tariq if she doesn’t want to get hurt.

Later, Tariq is put on trial for two murders – one of which he didn’t commit – and is forced to stay in his room with an ankle monitor during the trial. Effie is there for him, though, and he introduces her to some people, saying she’ll be working for them as of now.

Long story short, Lauren betrays Tariq and his associates by wearing a wire, so Effie plots her murder, which fails. Tariq gets angry at her for that, which is when the third season commences. I won’t head into detail about the third season, as many might’ve missed it so far as it just came out recently, but Effie is still a recurring character loved (and hated at the same time) by fans.

Who plays Effie Morales?

Effie Morales is portrayed by Alix Lapri, an American singer, songwriter, and actress. Alix is most well-known for her music career, and her role as Effie in the Power-verse is probably her biggest acting role so far.

She actually already worked with 50 Cent in 2018 in the blockbuster movie Den of Thieves, where Lapri portrayed Maloa.

As mentioned, her role as Effie in Power was a minor role, as she only appeared in four episodes of the last season of the show. So, when Effie became a more prominent role in Power Book II: Ghost, Alix didn’t hide her excitement and joy. Speaking to TV Insider before Season 2, she shared:

“It’s surreal. It took me a long time to believe it was actually going to be happening. It’s validating when your role grows and gets deeper and more complex. You get to stretch more as an actor. I think she was still a mystery last season. Everyone wanted more because they are intrigued by her. She would just come and go and pop up as she pleased. 

I think this next season you’ll get to see her step into her bag a little bit more. She is powerful, edgy, risky, bold. She definitely does some very crazy things this season. We’re expanding the tough, borderline masculine, dominant energy in Season 2.”

However, she did share that she plans on turning to music again a bit and that she would actually love to work on some music for the show:

“I would love to [provide music for the show]. There have been no talks but I’ve actually been feeling like I want to step back into music a little bit lately. I feel it would be a great place to start. Who knows? Maybe we’ll make something happen.”

Whatever Alix chooses to do in the future – acting, music, or both – I’m positive she’ll do an amazing job and have a fantastic career, just like she has had so far.