MARY-KATE OLSEN JOINS THE CAST OF WEEDS' THIRD SEASON,

PREMIERING MONDAY, AUGUST 13 ON SHOWTIME

Olsen to be Featured in a 10-episode arc in the Hit Series from Lionsgate

May 25, 2007, Los Angeles - Actress Mary-Kate Olsen will join the cast of SHOWTIME's top-rated comedy series WEEDS for its third season currently in production in Los Angeles, it was announced today. Olsen will be featured in 10 of the season's 15 episodes as Tara, a new love interest for Silas (Hunter Parrish) whose girlfriend broke his heart last season.  Olsen's character lives in the newly-developed mega-church community called Majestic.  Produced by Lionsgate, in association with Tilted Productions, WEEDS premieres Monday, August 13th, at 10pm ET/PT.

"I'm thrilled to be a part of the show. It's really an honor to be a part of such a talented group of actors and writers," says Olsen.

"WEEDS isn't your eight-o'-clock family fare.  It's an adult show with adult subject matter and we're confident Mary-Kate is right for the role," says WEEDS creator and executive producer Jenji Kohan. "She came in and read with Hunter (Parrish) and was absolutely charming and real and seemed like a great fit.  Audiences have seen only one side of Mary-Kate but here, we'll see her in a whole new light."

Olsen made her TV debut at age nine months, sharing the role of Michelle Tanner on the ABC hit TV series "Full House" with her twin sister, Ashley. The sisters serve as co-presidents of Dualstar Entertainment Group.

In addition to Olsen, also joining the cast this season on WEEDS is Matthew Modine as Sullivan Groff, the mysterious land developer for Majestic, a new Christian, mega-church development being built right near Agrestic. Groff and Nancy (Mary-Louise Parker) will strike up a mutually beneficial business arrangement, but under the watchful, busybody eye of Celia (Elizabeth Perkins).  In single-episode cameos are Zooey Deschanel, reprising her role as Andy's quirky ex-girlfriend Kat, and Carrie Fisher as Arlene, Celia's divorce attorney. 

One of the most buzzed-about series on television, WEEDS follows a suburban mother (Parker in her Golden Globe®-winning portrayal of Nancy Botwin) who deals marijuana in order to make ends meet after her husband dies unexpectedly. The show, which earned a Golden Globe ® nomination for Best Comedy Series, also stars Emmy® nominee Elizabeth Perkins, Tonye Patano, Romany Malco, Hunter Parrish, Alexander Gould, Andy Milder, Allie Grant, with Justin Kirk and Kevin Nealon.  

CONTACTS:

Chloe Comins

SHOWTIME PR

617-266-1784

chloe.comins@showtime.net

Morgan Fouch

SHOWTIME PR

310-234-5219

morgan.fouch@showtime.net