Gretchen Mol strolls onto HBO's "Boardwalk Empire"

Actress Gretchen Mol arrives for a screening of the film ''Inglourious Basterds'' in New York in this August 18, 2009 file photo.

LOS ANGELES (Hollywood Reporter) - Gretchen Mol has joined HBO's upcoming period drama series "Boardwalk Empire" in the recurring role of a showgirl.

"Empire," written by Terence Winter and executive produced by Martin Scorsese, who directed the pilot, is set in 1920 at the dawn of Prohibition and chronicles the life and times of Nucky Thompson (Steve Buscemi), the undisputed ruler of Atlantic City who was equal parts politician and gangster.

Mol has been hotly pursued for series roles since her starring turn last season on ABC's "Life on Mars." She recently toplined the feature "An American Affair."

(Editing by Sheri Linden at Reuters)