Marlene Forte's Shaking Up the House of Payne

[Brian Damage]

Marlene Forte says she feels like "Alice in Wonderland" after getting some time in the spotlight on Tyler Perry's House of Payne.

Forte's made a name for herself as a talented character actor, playing cops and victims on shows like Lost, CSI, Cold Case and ER. Now, she's changing to comedy by entering the Atlanta-based world of the Payne family. Forte's also excited about representing the Latino community with the introduction of the Hernandez clan to the TBS sitcom.

"I've played lots of moms in my career, but they're always weepy or crying over their dead husbands... but, [my character is] witty, smart and nothing really rattles her. She's the boss. Really just like every Latin wife."

Forte plays Rosie Hernandez, a police officer's wife and mother of three who befriends the show's matriarch, Ella Payne (Cassi Davis). Because both of their kids are older or have already left the nest, Rosie and Ella will get into all kinds of trouble together...

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