'House of Cards' Actress to Star in Downey and Burnett's CBS Mini 'Dovekeepers'

"House of Cards" and "Manhattan" alum Rachel Brosnahan is set to take flight as the star of "The Dovekeepers," the four-hour CBS miniseries based on Alice Hoffman's historical novel that is set in ancient Israel and focuses on the intersecting stories of four women at the siege of Masada.

Brosnahan will play Yael, a strong-willing and attractive woman whose mother died in childbirth and whose father forever blames her for that loss. During the dangerous journey they make together through the desert, Yael has a whirlwind romance that will haunt her life even after they arrive at Masada. Yael also finds comfort from her warrior brother, Amram (played by Diego Boneta), and kinship from her fellow dovekeeper, Shirah (played by Cote de Pablo).

Roma Downey and Mark Burnett are producing "The Dovekeepers" under their LightWorkers Media shingle. It is a co-production between CBS Television Studios and LightWorkers and is the first project from CBS Entertainment and CBS Television Studios' Limited Series and Event Programming unit. It will be broadcast in 2015.

"It gives me such excitement to announce that Rachel Brosnahan will play the fierce and beautiful, Yael in 'The Dovekeepers,'" said Downey. "I really admire Rachel's work and find her to be one of the most exciting young actresses of our time. I have no doubt that she will bring courage and dignity to this unique character."