NEW YORK (AP) – Annabella Sciorra is the latest “Sopranos” star to cross police lines to “Law & Order.”

The 41-year-old actress, who played Tony Soprano’s mistress on the HBO mafia drama, will join the cast of NBC’s “Law & Order: Criminal Intent,” it was announced Tuesday.

Sciorra will play police detective Carolyn Barek, the partner of detective Mike Logan (Chris Noth). Earlier this year, she guest-starred on “Law & Order: Trial by Jury.”

“Annabella is an extremely talented and versatile actress, who has that rare combination of beauty, sex appeal, power and humor,” said creator/executive producer Dick Wolf in a statement. “I also anticipate she will have terrific chemistry with Chris.”

Sciorra, whose films include “Cop Land” and “Jungle Fever,” was nominated for an Emmy for her role as Gloria Trillo on “The Sopranos.”

Other stars of “The Sopranos” to try the other side of the law: Michael Imperioli was a guest star on “Law & Order” earlier this year; in March, Lorraine Bracco appeared on “Law & Order: Trial by Jury”; and Edie Falco played a defense lawyer on “Law & Order” before taking the role of Mrs. Soprano.

Both programs film in the New York City area.

“Law & Order: Criminal Intent,” which also stars Vincent D’Onofrio and Kathryn Erbe, airs Sundays (9 p.m. ET).

The Major Case Squad detective teams of D’Onofrio and Erbe and Noth and Sciorra will split the caseloads, with each fronting 11 episodes for the series’ fifth season.

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On the Net:

http://www.nbc.com/Law-&-Order:-Criminal-Intent/index.html