The Tudors's Maria Doyle Kennedy has boarded the cast for the upcoming season of Showtime's Dexter, Showtime confirmed.

Kennedy will appear in several episodes playing an Irish nanny hired to care for Dexter's son Harrison.

Julie Benz will return in the premiere episode of season five, "as Dexter grapples with the reality of the death of his wife, her presence will help him deal with his feelings of loss and grief -- emotions he's never felt before."