Maria Bello To Join ‘NCIS’ As A Series Regular

CBS announced on Thursday that one of their top crime shows will be getting a new series regular. Maria Bello (Thank You for Smoking, Secret Window) will join the cast of NCIS as a series regular starting in the show’s upcoming 15th season.

Bello’s character, according to CBS’ press release, will be an NCIS agent who was “commissioned as a second lieutenant in the army and served two tours in Afghanistan.” Upon joining the NCIS team, Bello’s character quickly established herself as one of the agency’s premier forensic physiologists.

It seems that Bello’s biggest role on the show will be challenging the show’s main character, Gibbs (Mark Harmon).

“She is a positive force, mischievous, and at times acerbic,” the release says.

“We have always been big fans of Maria Bello’s work and are excited to be introducing her as an agent who not only has a distinct talent, but also a unique relationship with Gibbs,” NCIS executive producers George Schenck and Frank Cardea said.

Bello also confirmed the news with a tweet on Thursday.

“Yep! It’s true. Looking forward to joining the amazing family @NCIS_CBS,” the actress wrote.

Bello’s character will be introduced in the fourth episode of the upcoming season.

As only the second woman to score a series regular spot, she joins the large ensemble cast of Harmon, Sean Murray, Emily Wickersham, Pauley Perrette, Wilmer Valderrama, Brian Dietzen, Duane Henry, Rocky Carroll, and David McCallum.

Season 15 of NCIS premieres on Tuesday, September 26 at 8 p.m. EST on CBS.