Anna Torv joins J.J. Abrams-produced pilot along with Blair Brown and Jasika Nicole

Always a fan of relatively unknown brunettes, J.J. Abrams as cast a young Aussie star as the lead in the FOX drama "Fringe."

According to The Hollywood Reporter, Anna Torv is looking to add to the star-making luster Abrams developed by giving series leads to folks like Keri Russell ("Felicity"), Jennifer Garner ("Alias") and Evangeline Lilly ("Lost").

Written by Abrams, Alex Kurtzman and Roberto Orci, "Fringe" focuses on a young female FBI agent (Torv), whose investigations into some paranormal happenings lead her to an institutionalized scientist (John Noble), whose research has something to do with a rise in unexplained phenomena. The scientist's estranged son also figures heavily into the action.

Alex Graves is directing what is expected to be a two-hour, $10 million pilot.

Joining previously announced co-stars Lance Reddick, Kirk Acevedo and Mark Valley are Blair Brown and Jasika Nicole.

Brown, a Tony winner and Emmy nominee for "The Days and Nights of Molly Dodd, will play a veteran researcher at Prometheus Corp., a cutting edge facility. Nicole, who last appeared in the NBC comedy pilot "The Mastersons of Manhattan," will play a federal assistant.

Torv is best known to Australian TV fans who have seen her in "The Secret Life of Us," "Young Lions" and "McLeod's Daughters."