Welsh actress Eve Myles is to play the lead female role in the Doctor Who spin-off series Torchwood.
Myles will play the role of Gwen opposite John Barrowman in the 13-part serial, to be screened later this year.
The drama, penned by Russell T Davies, will chart the adventures of a renegade team of crime investigators who solve both human and alien mysteries.
Davies, who wrote the comeback series of Doctor Who, said he created the role specially for Myles.
The new series, which centres around the character of Captain Jack, is due to begin filming in the summer and will be screened on BBC One and BBC Three.
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The drama is inspired by Doctor Who, but there will be no fictional crossover between the two programmes.
It is intended for a post-watershed audience.
Myles, whose previous credits include appearing alongside Sir Michael Gambon in a National Theatre production of Henry IV, appeared in the first series of the revived Doctor Who.
"I've admired Eve's work for years, and when she was able to guest-star in Doctor Who last year, it just confirmed to me that she was one of Wales's best-kept secrets," said Swansea-born Davies.
The "sexy, funny" spin-off, whose name is an anagram of Doctor Who, will be set in Cardiff.
"Doctor Who has a completely different feel to this kind of thing. This is set in the same place every week. It's a different sort of fun to Doctor Who," said Davies.
"It's an urban series, very much set on Earth," he added.
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