Patricia Clarkson shown great range on TV, portraying everything from a calculating gold-digger on 'Parks and Recreation' to a rebellious artist on 'Six Feet Under.' Now, Clarkson is tackling a new role -- that of breast-cancer survivor -- on Lifetime's 'Five.'

In 'Five' (Oct. 10, 9PM ET on Lifetime), Clarkson plays Mia, a woman whose whole life is turned upside down by disease. Her story is told backwards, a stylistic choice that shows just how much cancer has changed her life.

"Look at that part, I mean it's crazy," Clarkson said. "It's amazing. It's so beautifully written. It required everything of me."

Clarkson's short film was directed by Jennifer Aniston and is just one of five films with all-star directors. Demi Moore, Alicia Keys, Patty Jenkins and Penelope Spheeris direct the other four parts, each film focuses on a woman affected by breast cancer.

In honor of 'Five' and its five-part structure, AOL TV presents a quintet of key facts about this unique project:

Bob Newhart has joined the cast of Lifetime's anatholgy film 'Project Five.'

According to TV Guide, Newhart will join the star-studded cast as Dr. Roth, a friend of Jeanne Tripplehorn's character, Pearl.

Besides 'Big Love' star Tripplehorn, the cast includes veteran stars Patricia Clarkson, Tony Shalhoub, Rosario Dawson, Kathy Najimy, Jeffrey Tambor. The project of five short films tells the story of how breast cancer impacts people's lives.

Jennifer Aniston, Demi Moore, Alicia Keys and Patty Jenkins direct separate parts of the film series.

In other casting news ...

• Adrian Pasdar will guest star on 'Law & Order: Criminal Intent.' The former 'Heroes' star will be joined by 'Mad Men' actor Bryan Batt in the episode titled 'Trophy Wife.' Pasdar will play a wine collector and Batt a wine sommelier. [TV Guide]

• Bill O'Reilly is branching out into scripted television. The Fox News anchor will play himself as a potential murder suspect on an episode of 'Rizzoli & Isles.' [TV Guide]

• Adam Arkin is heading to 'The Closer.' The 'Sons of Anarchy' actor will play Steven Hirschbaum, described as "a Bernie Madoff-like businessman." Arkin previously directed an episode of the TNT drama. [TV Guide]

Jennifer Aniston, along with several other A-list stars, is stepping behind the camera for the new Lifetime TV movie 'Project Five.'

The five-story anthology will feature short films about how breast cancer has affected people's lives. Aniston will be joined by Demi Moore, Alicia Keys and Patty Jenkins as directors on the project.

According to Deadline, Aniston will serve as executive producer alongside 'Friends' creator Marta Kauffman, Paula Wagner, Kristin Hahn, Kevin Chinoy and Francesca Silvestri. This is the first time Aniston is working with Kauffman since 'Friends' ended.

"Our hope with Project Five is to entertain, inform and inspire dialogue, research and prevention," Aniston said in a statement. "Otherwise, our goals are small -- we want these films to move people and empower those affected by breast cancer to stand tall through this challenge, which impacts ALL of our lives, no matter who we are."