KOOL TV BABE OF THE WEEK: 'DEXTER's YVONNE STRAHOVSKI

A real-life Poison Ivy? Yvonne Strahovski as Hannah McKay in DEXTER. Images: SHOWTIME.

Portraying either the most intelligent, cunning and playing the innocent villainess since Sharon Stone's deadly authoress Catherine Tramell in BASIC INSTINCT (but without that character's R-rated sexual prowess!), or a character who's just an unfortunate soul unlucky enough to have had a tragic life, Australian actress Yvonne Strahovski, best known for her prior five year stint as savvy, ass-kicking spy Sarah Walker in the cult hit CHUCK, is clearly having a ball as Dexter's most recent love interest- botanist and poisoner, Hannah McKay, in both Season Seven and Eight of the SHOWTIME hit, DEXTER.

Capturing the heart of a serial killer. Dexter Morgan (Michael C. Hall) is spellbound!

Having gotten a taste for murder as a teenager, an early life on the run with her serial killer boyfriend (who ended up committing suicide in lovelorn honour for her), the many men in Hannah's layered honey-trap web since then have all come and gone in equally tragic, unfortunate and mysterious ways-often linked to poisoning. At a point when our favourite hero serial killer Dexter Morgan (Michael C. Hall), aware of her notoriety, was able to extinguish her life once and for all with his DIY murder kit, he too fell under the pretty enchantress's spell, revealing his inner most self and secrets to her-much to the chagrin, jealousy and frustrations of his sister: loyal and loving Debra (Jennifer Carpenter). Having survived a previous murder attempt from her, our potty-mouthed former detective, as if life couldn't get any worse for her at this present time, is none too pleased to see her back, out of prison and leaving a drug-induced "Hello!" calling card for the both of them.

Now dispatching her newest beau, millionaire Miles Foster (Julian Sands) - another one of those seemingly "accidental" slays, whilst also likely inheriting his fortune, does the complex Hannah ultimately love Dexter? Or does she have some type of long-term plan of revenge against both the Morgans that's yet to be properly initiated? If she survives Debra's own likely plan of revenge, will Hannah and Dexter actually end up enjoying some kind of happy life together? Well, happy in the surreal black comedy/drama sense that makes this show so unique! With only a few episodes of the run left, also playing on the UK's FOX HD channel, we'll soon know the ultimate outcome- for better or worse, in sickness and in health?

Before serial-killing, Strahovski as the heroic Sarah Walker in the comedy/adventure series CHUCK. Image: NBC.

Beyond DEXTER, look out for the lovely Miss Strahovski's next work: the upcoming, surely acting challenging horror "re-imagining" of FRANKENSTEIN UNBOUND, opposite lead Aaron Eckhart.