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Mira Sorvino | Scott Foley | Victor Garber

Academy Award winner Mira Sorvino joins the cast of NBC's new miniseries "The Last Templar" as renowned archaeologist Tess Chaykin.

Sorvino won the Academy Award, the Golden Globe Award, the Critics' Choice Award, and the National Board of Review and New York Film Critics Circle citations, among other honors, for her performance in Woody Allen's "Mighty Aphrodite."

Most recently, Sorvino earned a Golden Globe Award nomination for her performance in Christian Duguay's miniseries "Human Trafficking"; and had previously been nominated for her portrayal of Marilyn Monroe in Tim Fywell's "Norma Jean and Marilyn."

Sorvino was recently seen on the big screen in Terry George's "Reservation Road," opposite Joaquin Phoenix, Mark Ruffalo and Jennifer Connelly. Her other features include Robert Redford's "Quiz Show," Spike Lee's "Summer of Sam," David Mirkin's "Romy and Michele's High School Reunion," Clare Peploe's "The Triumph of Love," Whit Stillman's "Barcelona," Gary Winick's "Sweet Nothing," Ted Demme's "Beautiful Girls" and Rob Weiss' "Amongst Friends," which she associate produced. Other recent features include Brooks Branch's recently completed "Multiple Sarcasms" and in Jon Gunn's "Like Dandelion Dust" opposite Barry Pepper.

Additionally, Sorvino produced Griffin Dunne's acclaimed independent feature comedy "Lisa Picard Is "Famous," which premiered at the 2000 Cannes International Film Festival; and she was associate producer of the documentary "Freedom to Hate," tracing anti-Semitism in the former Soviet Union.

Onstage, Sorvino has appeared in Joyce Carol Oates' "Greensleeves" in Best of Schools, as part of UBU Repertory's Festival of New Plays. She also appeared off-Broadway in the Classic Stage Company's adaptation of "Naked," among others.

Sorvino is the official ambassador for the worldwide human rights organization Amnesty International's "Stop Violence Against Women" program. Her work with Amnesty was recognized at the Artivist Film Festival, which acknowledges socially conscious filmmakers, activist celebrities, and charitable organizations. In March 2006, she was honored with Amnesty International's Artist of Conscience Award, which is given to those who have displayed strong philanthropic and humanist efforts. Through her work with Amnesty, she has lobbied Congress on such topics as human trafficking and the atrocities in Darfur, Sudan.

Born and raised in New Jersey, Sorvino is the daughter of veteran actor Paul Sorvino. She attended Harvard University, where she graduated magna cum laude in East Asian studies and received the Hoopes Prize for her thesis. She has also won the National Italian American Foundation's Achievement Award.