Morena Baccarin to star on 'Gotham'

LOS ANGELES, Oct. 22 (UPI) -- Morena Baccarin has joined the cast of Gotham.

The 35-year-old actress will star as Dr. Leslie Thompkins on the Fox series. Baccarin will begin in a recurring capacity, with the chance of promotion to series regular in season two.

In the DC comics, Thompkins is a renowned doctor and close friend to Thomas Wayne. She becomes a surrogate parent figure to Bruce Wayne after his parents are murdered, and serves as his confidante once he becomes Batman. Gotham will see the character use her medical skills to help the city's poor, and also work at Arkham Asylum.

Gotham debuted in September, and airs Mondays at 8 p.m. ET. The series is set before Bruce Wayne becomes Batman, and stars Ben McKenzie as James Gordon, David Mazouz as Bruce Wayne, Sean Pertwee as Alfred Pennyworth, Robin Lord Taylor as Oswald "Penguin" Cobblepot, Camren Bicondova as Selina "Cat" Kyle and Jada Pinkett Smith as Fish Mooney.

Baccarin is best known for her role as Inara Serra on Firefly. The actress currently appears as Jessica Brody on Homeland, and will return as Erika Flynn on season seven of The Mentalist.