Dana Delany is returning to TV -- finally! -- as a surgeon-turned-medical examiner with a prickly 'House'-like personality in 'Body of Proof' (premieres Tues., Mar. 29, 10PM ET on ABC).

To be fair to her character, Dr. Megan Hunt, you would be cranky too if a car accident took away your ability to do what you love. But Delany seems to really enjoy her new license to snark: "It's finding that fine line between being a good doctor and also being a snarky, cranky person. You don't want to be too much of either."

To prep for the role (and sharing a lot of screentime with corpses), the veteran actress observed several autopsies -- and loved it. "You can get addicted to watching autopsies," Delany said. "It makes you appreciate the human body -- this miracle that we're given, and how it's our job to take care of it. And the fact that it all works so perfectly together is just amazing."

When we sat down to chat about the show, she described Megan as a psychopomp -- "isn't that a great word?" -- which is basically someone or something who helps put the deceased to rest and guide their souls to the afterlife. (And yes, vocabulary lessons like this are just one of many reasons to adore Delany.)



But, psychopomp or not, how'd she end up agreeing to be a TV series lead again? Look no further than Richard Castle. "I blame Nathan Fillion for this job," Delany joked. Apparently, after stopping by 'Castle' for a few episodes last season, at the request of her pal Fillion, the network tapped her for this starring role.

'Body of Proof''s supporting cast -- including Jeri Ryan, Nicholas Bishop, Sonja Sohn, Windell D. Middlebrooks, John Carroll Lynch and Geoffrey Arend -- must've been a nice draw as well. But a lot of the show's drama happens outside of work, where Megan's personal life is a shambles.

So don't expect the show or her character to be the kind to wrap things up in a little bow each episode. "I like when things are complicated and not going so well, because that's more interesting to play."

And more interesting to watch, don't you think? Are you excited to see 'Body of Proof'? Sound off in the comments.


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