Heroes Gets an X-Men Factor
Fri Jun 1, 12:30 AM

Heroes is getting a new heroine.

Dania Ramirez, who currently has a recurring role on The Sopranos as A.J.'s (Robert Iler) romantic interest, will join the NBC sci-fi drama as a series regular for the second season, the network has confirmed.

She'll play Maya, a new hero whose powers have not yet been revealed.

Ramirez should prove a worthy addition, as she comes to the show with prior experience in portraying characters equipped with superhuman abilities.

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E! Online The Dominican Republic-born beauty played Callisto, a mutant possessed with extreme speed and enhanced senses, in 2006's X-Men: The Last Stand. She also played Caridad, a potential slayer, in the final three episodes of Buffy the Vampire Slayer.

Maya is one of four or five new characters expected to be added to Heroes for the second season, but Ramirez might be the only series regular, while the others may be relegated to recurring roles.

The remaining additions are said to include a love interest for Claire (Hayden Panettiere), a young, black surrogate mother for Niki's (Ali Larter) son, and an Irish mobster.

NBC was sufficiently pleased with the hit series' freshman season to not only renew it, but also to order six episodes of a spinoff titled Heroes: Origins, which will air when the original series is on hiatus.

Viewers who haven't been keeping up with the series to date need not despair; the season one DVD is due for release Aug. 28, allowing plenty of time to catch up before season two premieres this fall.

"I offer you a Vulcan prayer, Mr Suder. May your

death bring you the peace you never found in

life." - Tuvok.