Alfre Woodard joins Desperate Housewives

Source: Variety

Alfre Woodard has signed a deal to join the cast of ABC's Desperate Housewives next season, reports Variety. She'll play a seemingly normal woman who moves into the cul-de-sac with her son in tow.

Meanwhile, Woodard has also signed to star opposite Antonio Banderas in the New Line feature "Take The Lead".

Desperate Housewives is Woodard's first regular TV role since she played Dr. Roxanne Turner on St. Elsewhere. Woodard will appear as a guest in the show's final episode before continuing as a regular this fall. 

Take The Lead follows the story of a French emigrant who volunteers at an inner-city high school. Woodard plays the school principal, who is at first concerned with the lead character's methods, until she notices how favorably the students respond.