Rosario Dawson marks the latest addition to Marvel's upcoming Netflix series, Daredevil.  The show's first female cast member will join Charlie Cox (Boardwalk Empire), who plays blind lawyer Matt Murdock and his title character alter ego, and Vincent D'Onofrio, who was recently cast to play the villainous Kingpin.  While we don't know exactly who Dawson will be playing (or if it's a character pulled from the mythology or an original creation), but it's expected to be an "absolutely critical" role played out over multiple episodes.  Hit the jump for more.

Marvel announced

that Dawson will guest star on Daredevil, a 13-episode Netflix series that launches the multi-platform content company's venture into the digital domain, starting in 2015.  Per their write-up, "Rosario Dawson will play a dedicated young woman whose quest to heal the wounds of Hell’s Kitchen brings Matt Murdock unexpectedly crashing into her life, while her own journey forever alters the course of his battle against the injustices of this broken city."

One wonders if that language is to be taken literally - is Dawson a health-care worker or perhaps a more super-powered sort of healer? Will Murdock actually crash into her, due to blindness? - or figuratively, suggesting she's a good-hearted citizen caught in a crummy situation who crosses paths with the Daredevil on occasion.  Time will tell.

Here's what Marvel's head of television, Jeph Loeb, had to say about the casting news:

“Rosario Dawson is one the most charismatic, talented and powerful actresses in Hollywood, so she was always at the top of our list for 'Marvel’s Daredevil. Her role in the series is absolutely critical to Matt Murdock’s journey to become the hero we know as Daredevil.”

Dawson is a strong actor known for turning in equally strong performances in her roles, with such varied roles as those in Gimme Shelter, Cesar Chavez, or Sin City.  You can next see Dawson in the follow-up to that last film, Sin City: A Dame to Kill For, opening August 22nd.