Kristine Nielsen Joins Cast of USA Network's POLITICAL ANIMALS

Deadline.com reports that Kristine Nielsen has joined the cast of USA Network's upcoming series POLITICAL ANIMALS. The actress will star opposite Emmy and Oscar nominee Sigourney Weaver. Nielsen, whose stage credits include Betty’s Summer Vacation, Bloody Bloody Andrew Jackson and Why Torture is Wrong…, will portray the character of Alice, secretary to Weaver’s character, on the series.

USA Network’s provocative six-hour original series POLITICAL ANIMALS, from Warner Horizon Television is slated for the network’s blockbuster summer lineup. The event drama comes from acclaimed television and film producers Greg Berlanti (“Brothers & Sisters,” “Dirty Sexy Money,” “Everwood”) and Laurence Mark (“Dreamgirls,” “Julie & Julia,” “Jerry Maguire”). Pulling back the curtain on persuasive public speeches and stirring campaign ads, the fictional look at a former first family exposes a dynasty weakened by political ambition, lust and greed.

Weaver stars as Elaine Barrish, the divorced former First Lady and newly appointed Secretary of State who throws herself into the job after recovering from the dissolution of her marriage and losing the presidential nomination. Barrish relies heavily on her son Doug (James Wolk – “Lonestar,” “Happy Endings”), an ambitious politico who serves as her chief of staff, but is tormented by his twin brother's struggles with addiction. With a philandering ex-husband who is still as much in love with her as the office he once held, she attempts to keep her family together, while simultaneously dealing with crises of the State Department and a hungry DC journalist bent on destroying her career. Through it all she knows that the only way to survive is to do things her own way, even if that means bending the rules. Brittany Ishibashi (“Parenthood,” FAIRLY LEGAL) also stars as Doug’s fiancée.

POLITICAL ANIMALS is from Berlanti Productions and Laurence Mark Productions in association with Warner Horizon Television. Berlanti wrote and will direct the pilot and serves as executive producer of the series with Mark. Melissa Kellner Berman of Berlanti Productions will co-executive produce.