Gabourey Sidibe Joins Showtime Comedy 'The Big C'

Sidibe's guest star role turns into a regular appearance.

Hot off her Best Actress nomination, Precious star Gabourey Sidibe has joined the cast of Showtime's half hour dark comedy series The Big C in a regular role.

Sidibe's role as a smart-aleck student was originally just for a guest appearance, but the role has been expanded into a recurring guest star role. Laura Linney leads the cast as Cathy, a woman who has spent her life as a repressed suburban housewife and decides to reclaim her handle on life after a terminal cancer diagnosis. Oliver Platt also stars as her husband, who is described as being "immature, but well-meaning."

The show begins shooting in May. The first season order is for 13 episodes, and will begin airing on the cable network in the late summer. Linney executive produces alongside show writers Darlene Hunt, Neal H. Moritz, and Vivian Cannon. The pilot was directed by Bill Condon, who also wrote, directed, and produced the Oscar-winning film Dreamgirls.

- thecelebritycafe.com