'Sleepy Hollow' Newcomer Janina Gavankar Says She's Mourning Nicole Beharie's Abbie Mills Too

When "Sleepy Hollow" begins Season 4 on Friday, Jan. 6, Janina Gavankar will be the new lead actress to replace Nicole Beharie. The latter previously announced she would be quitting the show after Season 3 to do other projects, prompting the Fox series to make big adjustments.

As the latest cast addition, Janina Gavankar knows that she is going to assume a special but strange spot as the rookie lead. She admits that she knows that fans will be grieving Abbie Mills, but she understands where they are coming from.

Janina Gavankar said that she has been watching the TV series like any fan before landing the job as the replacement. So, she's aware of the void that Nicole Beharie left.

"She's incredible," she told TV Line. "She's part of the fabric of the show." But Janina Gavankar is also excited about being part of "Sleepy Hollow" Season 4 despite a bit of nervousness over the fact long-time viewers might not like her or her new character.

The actress will play Diana Thomas, a former Marine who works for the Homeland Security. Her character is a skeptic about the supernatural phenomenon that "Sleepy Hollow" is all about, but then she meets Ichabod Crane (Tom Mison).

"She's also a mother to a daughter who has been having some issues," she described how her character will be introduced in show, according to Herald News. "Suddenly a strange guy shows up, and introduces himself as Ichabod Crane, and she realizes she's going to need him to crack this case," she added.

Abbie Mills and Ichabod Crane bantered quite a lot on "Sleepy Hollow" and it's one of the reasons why viewers loved their partnership. It's still unclear what the chemistry will be like between Diana Thomas and Ichabod Crane and Cinema Blend notes that Janina Gavankar will have "tough shoes to fill."

Check out Janina Gavankar in the promo for "Sleepy Hollow" below. Catch the show's premiere on Friday, Jan. 6 on Fox.