Lone Olsen Twin Joins 'Weeds'

Zap2It.com | May 24, 2007

Mary-Kate Olsen

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Matthew Modine will also join the comedy this August

Mary-Kate Olsen will join the cast of Showtime's "Weeds," leaving sister Ashley behind for her highest profile solo acting turn.

Olsen will play Tara, a devoted Christian girl who moves into Agrestic's neighboring megachurch-centric community of Majestic. She becomes a love interest for Nancy's (Mary-Louise Parker) son Silas (Hunter Parrish).

"I'm thrilled to be a part of the show," Olsen gushes. "It's really an honor to be a part of such a talented group of actors and writers."

And the "Weeds" team is happy to have Olsen as well, particularly in a venue that's far more adult than what her fans have come to expect.

The third season of the Emmy-nominated Showtime comedy will premiere on Aug. 13. Olsen will reportedly appear in at least 10 of the season's 15 episodes.

"WEEDS isn't your eight-o'-clock family fare," says "Weeds" creator Jenji Kohan. "It's an adult show with adult subject matter and we're confident Mary-Kate is right for the role. She came in and read with Hunter [Parrish] and was absolutely charming and real and seemed like a great fit. Audiences have seen only one side of Mary-Kate but here, we'll see her in a whole new light."

Other new additions to the cast include the previously announced Matthew Modine.

Olsen, who turns 21 this June, starred with sister Ashley in a wide variety of TV projects, ranging from the sitcom "Full House" to features like "New York Minute" and more direct-to-video releases than this writer cares to count.

Mary-Kate and Ashley Olsen remain co-presidents of Dualstar Entertainment Group, the lynchpin of their entertainment empire.