Alfre Woodard will return for the fifth season of HBO's True Blood, as Ruby Jean Reynolds, the schizophrenic mother of Lafayette (played by Nelsan Ellis).

Fans of the series will know that her character was last seen in season 3, when she was a patient in a mental hospital, and under the care of Jesus (Kevin Alejandro), whose later romance with her son Lafayette, was nothing short of tragic.

Woodard was nominated for a 2011 Emmy for Outstanding Guest Actress in a Drama Series for her role in True Blood.

The 5th season of True Blood premieres on HBO on June 10 and on FX in the UK later this year.