Uma Thurman Lands Five-Episode Arc on NBC's 'Smash'

The actress will play a character described as a "famous and somewhat difficult movie star" on the midseason musical drama.

3:37 PM PST 12/8/2011 by Philiana Ng

Comments

Theo Wargo/Getty Images

Uma Thurman

Uma Thurman has been recruited for a major arc on NBC's midseason musical drama Smash.

The Oscar-nominated actress will guest star in five episodes of the series, playing a character who is described as a "famous and somewhat difficult movie star who flirts with the idea of starring in Marilyn," the musical about Marilyn Monroe.

Thurman, best known for toplining Kill Bill and Pulp Fiction, has recently starred in The Producers, My Super Ex-Girlfriend, My Zinc Bed and Motherhood, and will appear in the upcoming Eloise in Paris. Thurman won a Golden Globe for appearing in 2002's television movie Hysterical Blindness.

Smash follows the procress of creating a Broadway musical based on the life of Monroe, written by successful songwriting duo Tom (Christian Borle) and Julia (Debra Messing), who is in the process of adopting a child with husband Frank (Brian d'Arcy James). Young Midwesterner Karen (Katharine McPhee) and theater vet Ivy (Megan Hilty) soon find themselves vying for the starring role. Anjelica Huston, Jack Davenport, Jaime Cepero and Raza Jaffrey co-star.

The series came from an idea originated from Steven Spielberg. The pilot was written by Theresa Rebeck. David Marshall Grant, Craig Zadan and Neil Meron and Darryl Frank and Justin Falvey serve as executive producers. Marc Shaiman and Scott Wittman, who serve as executive producers as well, pen the original songs. The pilot was directed by Michael Mayer.

Smash is scheduled to debut following The Voice on Monday, Feb. 6 at 10 p.m.