Portia de Rossi to join the cast of 'Scandal'

LOS ANGELES, July 23 (UPI) -- Portia de Rossi has joined the cast of Scandal.

The 41-year-old actress will star in a multi-episode arc on the fourth season of the ABC series. Wife Ellen DeGeneres announced the news Wednesday on Twitter.

"So annoying when people brag on Twitter & that's why I'm not tweeting that Portia just signed on to do a top secret arc on "Scandal." Oops," she wrote.

Details about the role are being kept firmly under wraps, although a network representative did confirm to E! News de Rossi will appear on the show. De Rossi and creator Shonda Rhimes are the only ones who know details about the part, although some fans speculate the actress will star as a member of Olivia Pope's (Kerry Washington) team.

Scandal left off, however, with Pope & Associates being disbanded and Pope boarding a plane with love interest Jake (Scott Foley). The fourth season premiere will reveal the characters' new location, and airs September 26 on ABC.