Anyone who’s been following the third season 3 of Scandal has heard the name of yet another Pope – Maya Lewis. While she doesn’t actually bare the last name, Pope, she definitely is one. Now, everyone can put a face to the name. Hollywood Reporter confirms that “Treme” actress, Khandi Alexander has been been added to the cast of “Scandal” in a recurring role as Olivia Pope’s mother, Maya Lewis, better known as, “Mama Pope.”

The prestigious honor comes after much consideration as fans speculated that the role would be portrayed by other notable actresses like ‘Phylicia Rashad, Lynn Whitfield, and Jenifer Lewis,’ reports Inquisitr. For those who missed Thursday’s explosive new Scandal episode, “More Cattle, Less Bull,” Huck unveiled the identity of Olivia’s mother while doing some investigative work on “Operation Remington” with Jake Ballard.

The two discovered that Maya Lewis was a civilian passenger onboard the plane that was involved in the classified mission, Operation Remington. The plane was ordered to be shot down by Olivia’s father Rowan Pope. But, Rowan, also the head of B613 under the code name “Command,” isn’t totally at fault. However, it was revealed that even though he made the call, the blood actually wasn’t on his hands. President Fitzgerald Grant, who also happens to be Olivia’s lover, was actually responsible for the plane’s demise. Or was he?..

#OperationRemington "Who else has to die to protect this secret that no one else on this planet is looking for?"-FItz pic.twitter.com/DWc2QKsHuX

— Scandal (@ScandalABC) November 1, 2013

Khandi Alexander currently stars as LaDonna Batiste-Williams on the HBO hit drama series, “Treme.” She is also known for her former role as Dr. Alexx Woods on CSI: Miami. Alexander won a Vision Award for Best Actress in a Drama Series for “Treme” in 2011, and earned an NAACP Image Award nomination for Outstanding Actress in a Drama Series in 2012.

Scandal airs on Thursdays at 10:00ET on ABC.

Image(s) via DawgShed Discussion | Khandi Alexander     Twitter | ABC Scandal