Vanessa Williams Joins The Cast Of ‘Desperate Housewives’

Vanessa Williams is leaving New York City behind and heading to Wisteria Lane.

The “Ugly Betty” (her show which wrapped up in April) veteran has joined the cast of ABC’s “Desperate Housewives” the network announced on Tuesday.

Vanessa played the conniving editrix Wilhelmina Slater on “Ugly Betty,” and now her new character has some similar traits. According to ABC, Vanessa will play “a wicked new housewife.”

Additionally, Vanessa’s character is a housewife “who’s sure to shake things up in the neighborhood and wreak havoc in the lives of the women of Wisteria Lane,” ABC announced.

In an exclusive statement to Access Hollywood’s Shaun Robinson, the actress said she was excited to be joining “Desperate Housewives” and to be working with creator Marc Cherry.

“Marc will develop a new character for the show, but I’m so excited to be a part of a fantastic franchise and work with a team of such accomplished women,” Vanessa told Shaun in a statement. “It won’t be Wilhelmina, but given Marc Cherry’s record, the character will make a lot of waves on Wisteria Lane!”

Vanessa likely won’t be the only Wisteria resident causing trouble in the 2010-11 season. On the show’s sixth season finale, Paul Young (played by “Desperate” season 1 vet Mark Moses), moved into Susan and Mike’s house after they moved out due to financial difficulties.