Hilary Duff said set for 'Gossip Girl'

LOS ANGELES, July 1 (UPI) -- U.S. actress and pop singer Hilary Duff will appear in several episodes of the CW Network show "Gossip Girl" this fall, sources say.

Duff's multi-episode story arc will begin with the show's fourth episode of the 2009-10 season, set to air Oct. 5, unnamed sources told Entertainment Weekly Wednesday.

In the story, Duff will portray a movie star who's taking classes at New York University and ends up rooming with Jessica Szohr's Vanessa character, the magazine said.

Duff reportedly had time in her schedule to appear in "Gossip Girls" when NBC turned down her comedy show pilot, "Barely Legal."