Erica Gimpel Cast as Key Figure on Nikita

Erica Gimpel has been cast in a key role on Nikita.

The actress - forever best known for playing Coco Hernandez in the 1982 film Fame - will appear on two upcoming episodes of The CW drama as Carla, the woman responsible for making Nikita the fierce woman she is today.

The character is a mother figure to Nikita, the person who cleaned her up and saved her from a life on the streets over 10 years ago.

What brings these two back together? It's unclear at this point, but we'll find out when Gimpel debuts next month.

The actress has also played roles on Veronica Mars, Rizzoli & Isles, Prime Suspect and Grey's Anatomy.