Former "24" star Sarah Clarke has been cast as Special Agent Tess Monroe in the long running drama series "NCIS."

With Michael Weatherly's Agent Tony DiNozzo character set to exit the show at the end of the season, plans call for Clarke to join the cast for the final two episodes of this season and hold an option for returning as potentially a series regular in Season 14.

Monroe's character is described as a "multiple divorcee who is as sexy as she is strong." She will also stand out for her "quick-wit and toughness" and is regarded as a "no-nonsense agent with a big heart."

Clarke has Starred as a Federal Agent Before

Clarke also previously starred on "Covert Affairs," where she also played a federal agent.

"We feel so fortunate to have Sarah Clarke joining us to play Tess," said show-runner Gary Glasberg. "I've been a fan of hers for going back to "24" and, more recently "Bosch.'"

Tess is one of two new characters the show is rumored to be planning to add in hopes of filling to the void left by Weatherly's departure. The other new character, MI-6 Intel agent Clayton, is still being cast.

How Will DiNozzo go out?

As for DiNozzo and how producers plan to handle his exit storyline, a recent TV Line poll found that 28 percent of fans prefer seeing leave for a life with Cote de Pablo's former Agent Ziva David character, compared to 22 percent who want to see him leave D.C. to head up his own NCIS team in another location.

"You can't have Tony leave the show and not get into that in some respect," Glasberg said of the Agent David situation. "So, plan on it being discussed and handled, even if it's in background."

Weatherly's departure leaves only Mark Harmon (Agent Leroy Jethro Gibbs), Pauley Perrette (Abby "Sciuto) and David McCallum (Donald Mallard) as the show's only three remaining original cast members.

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