Marlene Forte

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Keck's Exclusives: TNT's Dallas Casts Final Series Regular Role

Marlene Forte

Cuban-born actress Marlene Forte, who had recurring roles on Crossing Jordan and House of Payne, has won the final series regular role on TNT's Dallas pilot. Marlene will play Carmen, the Ewing family's longtime housekeeper, whose daughter, Elena (Jordana Brewster), enjoys a friendship with Ewing cousins John Ross (Josh Henderson) and Christopher (Jesse Metcalfe). The cast is just now heading down to Dallas to begin shooting the pilot episode.

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Marlene Forte's Shaking Up the House of Payne

Marlene Forte

Marlene Forte says she feels like "Alice in Wonderland" after getting some time in the spotlight on Tyler Perry's House of Payne.

Forte's made a name for herself as a talented character actor, playing cops and victims on shows like Lost, CSI, Cold Case and ER. Now, she's changing to comedy by entering the Atlanta-based world of the Payne family. Forte's also excited about representing the Latino community with the introduction of the Hernandez clan to the TBS sitcom.

"I've played lots of moms in my career, but they're always weepy or crying over their dead husbands... but, [my character is] witty, smart and nothing really rattles her. She's the boss. Really just like every Latin wife."

Forte plays Rosie Hernandez, a police officer's wife and mother of three who befriends the show's matriarch, Ella Payne (Cassi Davis). Because both of their kids are older or have already left the nest, Rosie and Ella will get into all kinds of trouble together... read more

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