Casting Couch: "24" Lands its Female Lead

The seventh season of 24 has finally found its female lead: Annie Wersching (General Hospital).

Wersching will star in Day Seven of 24, opposite Kiefer Sutherland, where she will play an FBI agent who finds herself in a rather adversarial relationship with Jack. (Hmmm, adversarial? How many hours will it take our erstwhile ex-CTU agent to bed this federal hottie?)

Wersching most recently appeared in the drama pilot Company Man for FOX.

Also joining the cast of 24 next season is Bob Gunton (Desperate Housewives), who guest-starred in three episodes last season as Secretary of Defense Ethan Kanin. He's currently in negotiations to come on board the real-time thriller as a regular next season; he will now play the chief of staff for the new president (Cherry Jones).

Wersching and Gunton join a now burgeoning 24 cast that includes Kiefer Sutherland, Mary Lynn Rajskub, Janeane Garofalo, Colm Feore, Cherry Jones, Jeffrey Nordling, and John Billlingsley, as the series moves its focus from Los Angeles to Washington D.C.