CLAIRE FORLANI JOINS "CSI: NY" IN A RECURRING ROLE

LOS ANGELES, Aug. 10 -- Claire Forlani joins the cast of CSI: NY in a recurring role as the CSI team's new medical examiner, who also happens to be in a relationship with Det. Mac Taylor (Gary Sinise). She makes her first appearance in the series' third season premiere, titled "People with Money," to be broadcast Wednesday, Sept. 20 (10:00-11:00 PM, ET/PT) on the CBS Television Network.

Forlani plays Dr. Peyton Driscoll, the team's beautiful and sharp new coroner who is from London and completed her education in America. She began her career in the New York Crime Lab as a medical examiner where she worked alongside Dr. Hawkes (Hill Harper) for two years, during which time she also worked frequently with Det. Mac Taylor. Although they never dated then, there was definite chemistry between them and, after a chance encounter a year ago, the two began dating. Dr. Driscoll detoured into the private sector to teach anatomy at a prominent university and, after finding academia too safe, decided to return to the medical examiner's office. As she and Det. Taylor begin working together again, Mac quickly realizes that dating someone he works with may be a unique challenge as he tries to figure out the professional and personal connotations of his private and public lives intersecting.

Forlani is best known for her work in the film "Meet Joe Black." Her other film credits include "The Rock," "Green Street Hooligans," "Bobby Jones: Stroke of Genius," "The Medallion," "Hallam Foe," "Dungeon Siege," "White on White," "Antitrust," "Boys and Girls," "Basquiat," "Mallrats" and the upcoming "For Your Consideration." Her television credits include the mini-series "Nightmares and Dreamscapes: From the Stories of Stephen King," and the movies "J.F.K.: Reckless Youth, " "The Pentagon Papers" and the upcoming "Carolina Moon."

CSI: NY, a crime drama inspired by the Number One drama series, "CSI: Crime Scene Investigation," is about forensic investigators who use high-tech science to follow the evidence and solve crimes in the Big Apple. The series stars Gary Sinise, Melina Kanakaredes, Eddie Cahill, Carmine Giovinazzo, Anna Belknap and Hill Harper.