Parenthood is adding a new love interest for Drew in its upcoming fifth season.
90210 alum Lyndon Smith has booked a major recurring role on NBC'sJason Katims drama, The Hollywood Reporter has learned.
PHOTOS: Broadcast TV's Returning Shows 2013-14
Smith will play Natalie, a college classmate to Drew and a potential love interest for the character played by Miles Heizer. The character is described as attractive and outgoing with a strong sense of herself. She's a freshman in Drew's class at Berkeley whom Drew develops a huge crush on. Always in the driver's seat in their relationship, Natalie dictates the terms of their friendship and wether or not it has occasional benefits -- much to Drew's frustration and misunderstanding.
"We really wanted to focus on that first year of college and what that's like for Drew," Katims tells THR. "You think some people set foot on campus and they're just meant to be there and then some people it takes a little bit longer to figure that out and I think for Drew it's definitely the latter that he struggles a little to try to figure out where he is. I like the idea of there being obstacles for him at college and not be simple."
STORY: 'Parenthood' Boss, Cast Talk Struggles, Snubs and Season 5
Smith most recently filmed ABC's drama pilot Reckless and MTV's Cassandra French's Finishing School for Boys. She most recently wrapped a lead role in the independent feature The Circle opposite Riley Smith. She's repped by Buchwald/Fortitude, Main Title and McKuin Frankel.
Smith joins a rapidly expanding Parenthood guest cast that also includes the previously announced Ray Romano, Matt Lauria, Jurnee Smollett, David Denman, Josh Stamberg, Sonya Walger and Tyson Ritter.
Parenthood returns for its fifth season on a new night starting Thursday, Setp. 26 at 10 p.m.
E-mail: Lesley.Goldberg@THR.com
Twitter: @Snoodit
