‘Shameless’ Alum Emily Bergl Joins ‘American Crime’

The actress will recur on Season 2 of the ABC anthology series. AP Images/Invision

The actress will recur on Season 2 of the ABC anthology series.

Emily Bergl is the latest to join the second season of American Crime.

The Shameless actress has signed on for a recurring role on the ABC anthology series, The Hollywood Reporter has learned.

Season two of American Crime centers on a high school boy who accuses several players on his private school's championship basketball team of sexually assaulting him.

Bergl will play Lillah Tanner, the mother one of the basketball players (The InbetweenersJoey Pollari) whose family becomes embroiled in the fallout of the alleged sexual assault.

"We’ve had a lot of success bringing in talent with varied backgrounds. Emily’s done Broadway, television," said creator John Ridley in a statement. "And being able to get her coming off of Shameless; the timing for us was just right. Our show really lives on being able to present as many voices as possible, and Emily simply adds to them."

The role reunites Bergl with her former Desperate Housewives co-star Felicity Huffman and her former Southland co-star Regina King. Both Huffman and King are nominated for Emmys for their roles on the first season of American Crime. The series is up for 10 statues total.

Huffman and King, as well as Timothy HuttonElvis Nolasco, Richard Cabral and Lili Taylor will all return for season two, taking on new roles. Bergl joins fellow newcomers Hope DavisAndre Benjamin and Stephanie Sigman (Spectre).

Bergl's other credits include Gilmore Girls, The Knick and most recently on ABC's Scandal. She is repped by Innovative Artists and Thruline Entertainment.

Ridley exec produces American Crime with Michael J. McDonald. The drama is expected to return midseason on ABC.

Kate Stanhope