She's used to being the talk of the town (her relationship with Australian cricketer Shane Warne is the latest subject to get the tabloids in a frenzy), so it's perhaps appropriate that Elizabeth Hurley is set to join the cast of American drama series Gossip Girl.

According to US website TVLine.com, the 46-year-old model-turned-actress (turned-swimwear designer) will play "sexy, smart, self-made media mogul" Diana Payne in the upcoming fifth series of the show about the lives of privileged teens in Manhattan.

Gossip Girl executive producers Stephanie Savage and Joshua Safran said Hurley’s character would be an “all-around force to be reckoned with.”

"Diana’s entrance on the Upper East Side will change the lives of all our characters - including, and especially, Gossip Girl herself.

"Elizabeth’s sense of humour, intelligence and beauty fit the GG world perfectly. We feel very fortunate to have her."

Gossip Girl stars Blake Lively and Leighton Meester and is narrated by Kristen Bell. Series five is set to premiere in the US in September and will air on ITV2 this autumn.