Lindsay Lohan will play a former high school bully during her forthcoming stint in TV show Ugly Betty.

The actress has signed up for six episodes of the hit U.s. programme in a bid to kickstart her struggling Hollywood career.

She will play Kimberley, the high school nemesis of America Ferrera's title character Betty.

Creator Silvio Horta tells Usmagazine.com, "Kimberley and Betty are going to run into each other. Kimberley's life has taken a turn for the worse. It doesn't turn out well for Betty."

And he insists Lohan's reputation as a troublesome and tardy star is unfounded: "She was terrific, a pleasure. She came in early and was very pleasant."

Lohan's first episode will be the season finale, aired in the U.s. on May 22nd.