Marlee Matlin is joining the cast of Showtime's The L Word. She'll play "a fiery artist who catches the attention of Jennifer Beals' character, Bette Porter," according to Showtime execs. In 1986, Matlin won an Oscar for playing a deaf student in the movie, Children of a Lesser God. Lately, though, she has been doing all sorts of (great) guest appearances including Desperate Housewives and Law and Order: SVU, and she has had a recurring role as 'Joey Lucas' on The West Wing.

Season four of The L Word is set to premiere sometime early next year.