by Dan J Kroll

Posted Thursday, January 06, 2011 12:18:29 PM

Former One Life to Live star Tika Sumpter (Layla Williamson) has been keeping busy since announcing last year that she would be dropping off contract status. The actress will appear on two primetime series later this month.

"Ok, guys!!" the actress wrote on Twitter. "January 24, 2011 -- My debut on Gossip Girl!! The countdown begins!"

Sumpter will play the newly created role of Raina on the CW drama. Her new alter ego is the daughter of a powerful businessman who will stir up trouble for some of the other characters.

On January 11, Sumpter will also appear on BET's dramady, The Game.

Officially, Sumpter remains on recurring status with One Life to Live, meaning that the actress could return to Llanview in the future. The actress announced in July that she'd decided to go off-contract with the ABC soap.

"As of July 30th, I will no longer be on contract. I will be on recurring [status]. This was my choice," Sumpter announced. "I decided this because it's just time to move on for me. It's time for me to try other things. And... it's just time. You know, you come at a crossroads in your life and you know that it's time to go on."

Tika Sumpter joined One Life to Live in July 2005. In 2008, Sumpter's work on One Life to Live earned her an NAACP Image Award nomination. There are currently no known upcoming airdates for Sumpter on One Life to Live.

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