Nichols Sheds Tough Girl Image to Become a Southern Belle…

She’s probably best known for playing a tough-as-nails special agent on Fox’s 24… But Marisol Nichols is about to girl-it-up!

The 38-year-old part-Spanish/part-Mexican actress is set to star in ABC’s midseason show Good Christian Belles.

Marisol Nichols

Nichols, best known for her role as Special Agent Nadia Yassir on the sixth season of 24, will appear as Heather Cruz, a catty Southern socialite on GCB.

“I haven’t been this girlie in a long time,” Nichols told reporters this week during a press conference with the cast. “It’s a good thing. I get to stretch [my acting] muscles in a lot of ways.”

Nichols, who also played a tough New York cop in the TV series Blind Justice, had to reportedly fight to land the pivotal role as the “queen of the gossip and glamorous” on the new dramadey. She even had to screen-test twice!

Produced by Sex and the City creator Darren Star, Good Christian Belles also stars Kristin Chenoweth, Annie Potts and Leslie Bibb.

The series is based on the book Good Christian Bitches by Kim Gatlin.