NCIS season 14
NCIS season 14 returns to CBS on 20 September at 8pm EST. CBS

NCIS has added actress Jennifer Esposito to its cast as a series regular for season 14. The Mistresses actress will play NCIS special agent Alexandra "Alex" Quinn, who will be recruited by special agent Leroy Gibbs.

CBS has released details about Esposito's character, and revealed the kind of agent she will be playing on the show. According to the website, the Blue Bloods actress will play "an experienced agent who left field work and became an instructor at the Law Enforcement Training Center". To use her special skills Gibbs (Mark Harmon) will bring her back onto the field.

NCIS showrunner Gary Glasberg said in a statement, "We couldn't be happier to have Jennifer Esposito joining us for season 14. She embodies everything that we hoped for in the character of Quinn and we can't wait to have her come be a part of our team."

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The 43-year-old actress will make her debut on the show in the premiere episode of season 14, which will air on 20 September at 8pm ET/PT on CBS Network. The CBS drama has also promoted Duane Henry, who joined the cast in season 13 as MI6 Officer Clayton Reeves, to series regular. CBS also added actor Wilmer Valderrama to its cast for season 14.

Cast member Michael Weatherly left the show in season 13, where in fans saw his character Tony DiNozzo quit the NCIS team to raise his daughter, who was last seen in the episode titled, Family First.

Previously Glasberg had addressed Weatherly's exit in an interview with Deadline. He said, "Michael is and was a huge part of our family behind the scenes but everybody wishes him well with this huge opportunity he has. And we welcome some new people and the great guests that we'll continue to have. We'll show up for work come July and start all over again."

"I still have Mark Harmon, and the family is still in place. We're actually excited as writers to have some new perspectives, to have some new characters come in, to be able switch it up and change things 14 seasons into a television show. It's fun for us. And to know that the foundation doesn't change but the opportunities continue to grow and are limitless, that's fun for us." the showrunner had explained.