Soon after season two of Parks and Recreation concluded, we asked the pressing question: What actress should play the key role of Ron Swanson's first wife, Tammy number-one?

Many answers were given, but no one nailed NBC's final choice: Patricia Clarkson has signed on for the role.

"Tammy 1 is her own specific brand of demon," producer Michael Schur told TV Guide of the character. "I think we came up with backstory for her that’s both funny and illuminating and also answers all of the questions that you would have when seeing people’s reactions to her presence in the finale."

Clarkson is a veteran of the big and small screen. Most recently, she portrayed Emma Stone's parent in Easy A and appeared in the SNL classic Motherlover.

Matt Richenthal is the Editor in Chief of TV Fanatic. Follow him on Twitter and on Google+.