Jennifer Lopez to play cop in TV drama

Actress-singer Jennifer Lopez is expanding her presence on the small screen. She has landed a new role as an undercover cop in an upcoming drama.

The 44-year-old will play the lead role in "Shades of Blue", a new crime show focusing on a single-mother detective who is recruited to work for the Federal Bureau of Investigation, reports contactmusic.com.

"Jennifer is an extraordinary talent and life force, and we're delighted to be in business with her," said Jennifer Salke, of America's NBC TV network.

"We're especially excited that Jennifer is returning to her acting roots and we know that she will create this complicated character in a vivid way that will breathe new life into the cop show genre," Salke added.

The production of the show is expected to begin next year.

Lopez began her career on TV as a dancer for sketch show "In Living Color", but she has most recently been seen on the small screen as part of TV talent competitions such as "American Idol" and her own Latin show "Q'Viva! The Chosen".