Tea Leoni New TV Show Was an Offer She Couldn't Refuse

Tea Leoni has a new TV show coming to CBS. Leoni is headlining CBS' new drama Madam Secretary where she plays the newly appointed secretary of state.
Leoni told E! News' Kristin Dos Santos "There was something-I adored her. I adored her by page two, there's no sarcasm to her. Sarcasm is too slow," Leoni told E! News' Kristin Dos Santos about her character. "I want to wake up and be her every day."

It was announced today that Tea Leoni will star in CBS's upcoming new drama "Madam Secretary." Leoni will play the newly appointed Secretary of State, Elizabeth McCord. Leoni's secretary is a former CIA analyst and current college professor who is hand-picked by the President himself. CBS promises that let Leoni will get to features her comedic skills.

According to CBS's announcement, "If 'The Good Wife' and '60 Minutes' had a baby it would be 'Madam Secretary.'"
"I think in a lot of ways it's inspiring to see women that we want to see. I think when I sort of set out to do this gal, I thought, 'Who do I want in office?'" Leoni told Santos,

"That's been guiding my choices."
In "Madam Secretary" Tim Daly will play Leoni's husband. Bebe Neuwirth will play the secretary's chief of staff.

The last time we saw Téa Leoni was in the 2011 film "Tower Heist" with Ben Stiller, Eddie Murphy and Matthew Broderick.Tea Leoni was born Elizabeth Téa Pantaleoni in New York City. Leoni starred in a wide range of films including "Jurassic Park III," "The Family Man," "Deep Impact," "Fun with Dick and Jane," "Flirting with Disaster," "Spanglish," "Bad Boys," 'Ghost Town" and "Tower Heist."

On TV, Leoni was cast as one of the stars of "Angels 88," which was supposed to be an updated version of the 1970s show "Charlie's Angels" in 1988, but after production delays, the show never aired. Leoni starred as Lisa DiNapoli in the TV daytime drama Santa Barbara and appeared in the sitcom "Frasier" as the fiancée of Sam Malone, played by Ted Danson.

Leoni was cast as one of the stars of Angels 88, an updated version of the 1970s show Charlie's Angels. In May 1988 After production delays, the show never aired Leoni starred as "Lisa DiNapoli" in the TV daytime drama Santa Barbara. appeared in the sitcom Frasier as the fiancée of Sam Malone (Ted Danson) in a crossover from Cheers, from which Frasier had spun off.

Tea Leoni was married to the actor David Duchovny. They have a daughter, Madelaine West, and a son, Kyd Miller. The couple separated briefly amid numerous reports of Duchovny's sex addition/

"Madam Secretary" was created by Barbara Hall, who brought us "Joan of Arcadia," and "Homeland."

"Madam Secretary" will air at 8 p.m. ET/PT Sundays in the fall.
Here is the trailer: