(Cover) - EN Showbiz - Elizabeth Hurley has joined the cast of Gossip Girl for the upcoming fifth season of the hit television show.

The 46-year-old actress, who is best known for her role in the Austin Powers movies, has been trying to revive her acting career after being on hiatus for several years.

Executive producers of the US show Stephanie Savage and Joshua Safran say Elizabeth will play a woman called Diana Payne and will appear in several episodes.

The character is a "sexy, smart, self-made media mogul and all around force to be reckoned with", they said.

"Diana's entrance on the Upper East Side will change the lives of all our characters including, and especially, Gossip Girl herself."

The creators of the series which has launched the careers of Blake Lively, Leighton Meester and Chace Crawford say they are delighted to be working with the British actress.

"Elizabeth's sense of humour, intelligence and beauty fit the GG world perfectly. We feel very fortunate to have her," they stated.

The mother-of-one filmed a villainous role earlier this year in the pilot for Seventies remake Wonder Woman but the show has since been reportedly scrapped.

Elizabeth is currently dating Australian cricket ace Shane Warne and is going through a divorce from estranged husband Arun Nayar after filing to end their marriage in April. (C) Cover Media