Michelle Yeoh headed for counter-terrorist action in 'Strike Back'

In her first role for American TV, the Hong Kong-based Malaysian actress will appear in the fifth and final season of the Cinemax action series "Strike Back."

Postponed due to an accident that kept lead actor Sullivan Stapleton away from the set, production on the drama's final season has finally begun, and several newcomers have been announced.

Former Miss Malaysia Michelle Yeoh, who is known in the West for playing a Bond girl in "Tomorrow Never Dies" and Aung San Suu Kyi in "The Lady," joins the cast in an unspecified role. Also due to appear in the fifth season are Adrian Paul, known for playing Duncan McLeod on the series "Highlander"; Dustin Claure of "Spartacus"; and Will Yun Lee, who was seen this summer on "True Blood."

Introduced in the UK in 2010 on Sky 1, "Strike Back" was purchased by the US network Cinemax the following year. The action drama is adapted from the novels of Chris Ryan, a former member of the renowned British Special Air Service counter-terrorism and special operations regiment.

The drama's stars Stapleton and Philip Winchester will return next year in 10 new episodes shot between Europe and Thailand.