Oklahoma native Jeanne Tripplehorn cast in 'The Gilded Age,' 'Downton Abbey' mastermind Julian Fellowes' new HBO project

Oklahoma native Jeanne Tripplehorn has been cast in a major recurring role in "The Gilded Age," "Downton Abbey" mastermind Julian Fellowes’ upcoming drama series at HBO, according to Deadline. 

A co-production between HBO and Universal TV, "The Gilded Age" is created, written and executive produced by Fellowes. The fictional period epic is focusing on New York City millionaire titans of industry in the 1880s comes from the "Downton Abbey" team of Fellowes, producer Gareth Neame and director Michael Engler. Along with Fellowes, Neame and David Crockett are executive producing, while Engler is doing double duty as director and executive producer. 

Tripplehorn will be joining an impressive list of series regulars including Christine Baranski, Cynthia Nixon, Amanda Peet, Morgan Spector, Taissa Farmiga, Blake Ritson and Simon Jones, according to Deadline. 

"The Gilded Age" will be set in 1882 and introduce Marian Brook (Louisa Jacobson), the orphaned daughter of a Southern general who moves into the home of her rigidly conventional aunts in New York City. Accompanied by the enigmatic Peggy Scott (Denée Benton), an African-American woman masquerading as her maid, Marian gets wrapped up in the lives of her incredibly wealthy neighbors, led by a ruthless railroad tycoon and his ambitious wife trying to gain acceptance by the high-brow Astor and Vanderbilt types. 

Tripplehorn will play another mysterious figure in Sylvia Chamberlain, an art collector and expert in the creative arts. She is excluded from high society because of her suspected shady past until Marian is kind to her.

Perhaps best known for her roles in movies like "Basic Instinct," "The Firm," "Mickey Blue Eyes" and "Waterworld," Tripplehorn, who hails from Tulsa, more recently starred in the feature film "Gloria Bell" with Julianne Moore, Brad Garrett and Michael Cera. 

She has experienced great success at HBO, earning an Emmy nomination for portraying Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis in the telefilm "Grey Gardens" and starring in the popular drama series "Big Love" opposite Chloe Sevigny, Ginnifer Goodwin and the late Bill Paxton. 

Tripplehorn also has starred on CBS' long-running procedural "Criminal Minds" and Amazon's original animated series "Undone." She recently wrapped production on the upcoming FX on Hulu limited series "Mrs. America," a 1970s political drama that also stars Cate Blanchett, Rose Byrne and Sarah Paulson. 

-BAM