'Dexter' star joins 'Ugly Betty'

Dexter star Lauren Velez has signed up to appear in a multi-episode arc on Ugly Betty.

The actress will play a nurse called Elena who enters the life of Betty Suarez (America Ferrera), according to The Hollywood Reporter.

Details of how the character is connected to the Suarez family have not been revealed but insiders have suggested that she could be linked to a central plot potentially involving the death of a main character.

Velez plays Lt. Maria Laguerta on Dexter, an officer at the Miami Metro Police Department who works alongside the titular serial killer.

She has previously appeared in shows including Oz, Numb3rs and Law & Order: Special Victims Unit.

Earlier this month, it was announced that Charlie Wilson's War star Daniel Eric Gold will also be joining the cast of the Golden Globe-nominated show.