Gretchen Palmer has been cast in the role of Serena on The Young and the Restless. For Palmer, an accomplished actress in both film and television, the role will mark her first venture into daytime television.

Palmer appeared in the UPN series, Homeboys In Outer Space, as well as the film I Got The Hook Up. Other credits include appearances on The Hughleys, The Wayans Bros., and 21 Jump Street.

There had been some initial speculation that "Serena" might be a covert attempt to recast the role of Drucilla, vacated by Victoria Rowell in 2000. Those rumors were quickly quashed by insiders and the show insists that Serena is a brand new character.

The casting of a female African American character comes at a time when the show has lost several key Black performers. Shemar Moore (ex-Malcolm Winters) exited Y&R earlier this year and Alexia Robinson (Alex Perez) will exit later this spring. Tonya Lee Williams (Olivia Winters) remains in contract negotiations.

Palmer makes her Y&R debut on June 3.