Tony Award winner Vanessa Redgrave will guest star as lesbian Supreme Court Justice Diane Nash in the new USA television drama Political Animals, according to Deadline. Created by Greg Berlanti and Laurence Mark, the series features previously announced stars Sigourney Weaver, Carla Gugino, Roger Bart, Dylan Baker and Dan Futterman. The series premieres July 15.
Based in Washington D.C., Political Animals is the story of Elaine Barrish (Weaver), a divorced former First Lady and recently appointed Secretary of State. Barrish must deal with the pain of her failed marriage and losing the presidential nomination. Nash (Redgrave) is the first openly gay member of the Supreme Court who is a friend and mentor to Barrish. The series will also co-star Adrian Pasdar, James Wolk, Sebastian Stan, Brittany Ishibashi, Ellen Burstyn and Ciarán Hinds. Stage and screen costume designer Ann Roth (The Book of Mormon) will design Weaver's costumes for the pilot.
Redgrave last performed on Broadway opposite James Earl Jones in Driving Miss Daisy and she received a 2003 Tony Award for her turn in Long Day's Journey Into Night. She has also appeared on Broadway in Orpheus Descending and The Lady From the Sea. Her many film credits include an Oscar-winning performance in Julia, Blow Up, Howards End, Atonement and Letters from Juliet.