ANNIE PARISSE JOINS CAST OF WOLF FILMS/NBC UNIVERSAL'S EMMY-WINNING 'LAW & ORDER' AS NEW ASSISTANT DISTRICT ATTORNEY ALEXANDRA BORGIA

NEW YORK -- December 8, 2004 -- Annie Parisse ("National Treasure," "How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days") begins production this week on the Emmy-winning Wolf Films/NBC Universal Television Studio series "Law & Order" (Wednesdays, 10-11 p.m. ET) as new Assistant District Attorney Alexandra Borgia. The announcement was made today by creator and executive producer Dick Wolf. Parisse replaces former A.D.A. Serena Southerlyn (Elisabeth Rohm) who has departed the series after three and a half seasons to pursue a film career. Photos available at NBCUMV.com

Parisse, who currently stars as Agent Dawes in the blockbuster new theatrical film "National Treasure" (starring Nicolas Cage), will debut on NBC in the episode "Fluency," scheduled to air January 19, 2005.

"Annie is a terrific actress, and her new character (Alexandra Borgia) is an exotic beauty whose looks belie the fact that she is usually the smartest person in the room," said Wolf.

Said Parisse, "I'm so excited to be a part of such a great show. I had so much fun when I did an episode a couple years ago and I'm really looking forward to working with everyone on a regular basis."

Parisse guest-starred on "Law & Order" during the 2001-02 season and on NBC's "Friends" in an episode broadcast last January. Her previous films include "How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days" and "On the Q.T." Her upcoming features include "Prime" starring Meryl Streep and Uma Thurman and "Monster In Law" starring Jennifer Lopez and Jane Fonda.

Parisse also portrayed Julia Lindsey Snyder on the daytime drama "As the World Turns" from 1998-2001 and again in 2002. Her other primetime guest-starring credits include NBC's "Third Watch" and "Big Apple."

"Law & Order" is a Wolf Films production in association with NBC Universal Television Studio. Dick Wolf is creator and executive producer; Matthew Penn, Eric Overmyer, Peter Jankowski and Roz Weinman are executive producers.