Ward: It’s Near And Dear To My Heart

Sela Ward visited The Early Show to discuss joining CSI: New York and the personal storyline for her character Jo Danville in this week’s episode, “Identity Crisis”. (Minor spoilers and embedded video after the jump!)

Fans first met Jo’s daughter Ellie (Sydney Park) in “Do Not Pass Go” earlier this season, and she returns in “Identity Crisis”. The mother and daughter will discuss Ellie’s adoption, which occurred after Jo arrested Ellie’s birth mother and put her in jail. Jo adopted the little girl so she wouldn’t end up in foster care. It’s a storyline that hits very close to home for the actress. “It’s very meaningful to me because it’s very near and dear to my heart,” Ward explained to Chris Wragge. “I don’t think they knew I had started that home for abused and neglected kids. It’s called Hope Village for Children.”

Ward joined CSI: NY after the departure of Melina Kanakaredes (Stella Bonasera), and she didn’t have much time to prepare. However, she said she’s “having a blast” working on the crime drama. “All these other shows I’ve been on, I understood what love was all about, and breaking up and getting married and being a mama,” she said. “And all of a sudden I had to learn about gunshots and murder and bludgeoning. It was quite an adjustment.”

You can watch the full video below, which includes a clip from “Identity Crisis”:

Sources: CBS News and TV Squad.