True Blood: Alfre Woodard, Others Join the Cast

Alfre Woodard will be guest-starring in Season 3 of True Blood, TVGuide.com has confirmed.

The 57-year-old actress, best known for her roles on Desperate Housewives and My Own Worst Enemy,   will play Layfette's mother, who also happens to be Tara's aunt.

True Blood's Kristin Bauer becomes series regular

Woodard wasn't the only mother added to the show this week. Law & Orderalum J. Smith-Cameron, 55, has been cast as the recurring role of Sam's estranged mother, Melinda. Prison Break's Marshall Allman will play her son.

Also joining the show in a recurring role is James Frain (The Tudors), 41, who will play Tara's new vampire love interest, Franklin Mott.