Linney's film credits include "The Savages," "Love Actually," "The Nanny Diaries" and "You Can Count on Me." She recently won an Emmy Award for her work in the miniseries "John Adams."

She is to make her first appearance as host when the series premieres with a new adaptation of "Tess of the D'Urbervilles," starring Gemma Arterton, Jan. 4 on PBS.

"Whether it's Austen or Dickens, timeless stories by great authors are worth telling again and again," Linney said in a statement. "The beauty of 'Masterpiece Classic' is that each generation brings a new and interesting interpretation to these programs."

Also included in the 2009 lineup are adaptations of Emily Bronte's "Wuthering Heights" and Charles Dickens' "Oliver Twist," "David Copperfield," "Little Dorrit" and "The Old Curiosity Shop."

"Masterpiece" has been presented on PBS by WGBH since 1971.