The big news that fans of the hit Starz original series, Spartacus: Blood and Sand, have been following since the first season ended long ago was the loss of star Andy Whitfield after he was diagnosed with non-Hodgkins lymphoma, and his eventual replacement with Liam McIntyre.

What many fans might not be so aware of, is that another popular actor from the first season also departed from the show during the lengthy delay. Lesley-Anne Brandt, who played top slave girl to Lucretia (Lucy Lawless), Naevia, decided during the delay to accept a job on CSI: NY. Now it’s being reported that Starz has found their new Naevia with the casting of Cynthia Addai-Robinson.

Addai-Robinson has mostly done TV work with gigs on Law & Order: Trial by Jury, Law & Order: Criminal Intent, CSI: Miami, Numb3rs, CSI: NY, ironically, and FastForward. She’s also set to appear in the upcoming movie Columbiana with Zoe Saldana, recent addition to The Hunger Games, Amandla Stenberg, Cliff Curtis, Callum Blue, and Michael Vartan.

The second season of Spartacus: Blood and Sand is currently in production and set to arrive at some point early next year.

[Source: EW]