Tripplehorn named WMF spokeswoman

NEW YORK, Jan. 15 (UPI) -- U.S. actress Jeanne Tripplehorn has agreed to serve as a spokeswoman for the World Monuments Fund, WMF President Bonnie Burnham said.

The WMF describes itself as "the leading independent organization devoted to saving the world's most treasured places."

Tripplehorn, who currently stars in the HBO series, "Big Love," has appeared in the films "Basic Instinct," "Sliding Doors" and "The Firm."

"We are thrilled that Jeanne has agreed to be a spokesperson for the World Monuments Fund," Burnham said in a statement Thursday. "She brings a passionate voice to our cause that will help draw even more attention to the plight of architectural heritage around the world."

"I am very excited about this new role, as I've had a deep appreciation for architecture and preservation throughout my life," added Jeanne Tripplehorn.

"I am especially interested in WMF's wonderful program, the World Monuments Watch, through which they announce, every other year, a list of 100 most endangered sites. One of the most recent Watch sites is Route 66, which runs through my hometown of Tulsa, Okla., and ends not too far from where I now live in Los Angeles," Tripplehorn noted. "We all take for granted that the places we love will be around forever, but that's clearly not the case, not even with Route 66, a familiar reminder to me of home. So, I am proud to speak out on behalf of the World Monuments Fund, which has been saving historic sites for more than 40 years, from Beijing to Rome to Tulsa."