Gretchen Mol joins Boardwalk Empire

Gretchen Mol has joined HBO’s upcoming drama series Boardwalk Empire in a recurring role, according to The Hollywood Reporter. "Empire," written by Terence Winter and executive produced by Martin Scorsese, who directed the pilot, is set in 1920 at the dawn of Prohibition and chronicles the life and times of Nucky Thompson (Steve Buscemi), the undisputed ruler of Atlantic City who was equal parts politician and gangster. Mol, who has been hotly pursued for series roles since her starring turn last season on ABC's "Life on Mars.", will play Gillian, a showgirl.

At last night’s 'Darker Side of Green' debate, a launch for Lexus’s new hybrid car, Mol warned that even though she will be playing a twenties-era dancer in the series (currently filming, and slated to air next fall), we should not expect Showgirls II. "Showgirls then didn’t dance," she explained, "because it was all about looking nude without being totally naked. So you didn’t move, because that was considered to be too titillating and too pornographic, because then stuff would shake and move. This was supposed to be art. So it’s like, posing, and then you shift and pose again."