Romijn to join 'Ugly Betty' cast

LOS ANGELES, Dec. 8 (UPI) -- Former model turned actress Rebecca Romijn is joining the cast of ABC's "Ugly Betty" to take over the character of the mysterious masked woman.

Best known as the shape-shifting Mystique in the three "X-Men" films, Romijn will make her first appearance on the series sometime early next year, Zap2it.com reports.

The character Romijn will assume has already appeared in seven episodes, swathed in giant sunglasses and a surgical mask.

An actress named Elizabeth Penn Payne has been under the disguise.

The addition of Romijn to the cast brings the number of regulars on the show to 12.

"Ugly Betty" also has a number of recurring characters including executive producer Salma Hayek, who plays the editor of a rival magazine.