'LOST' Star Finds New Gig

[Sydney]

Evangeline Lilly is no carpetbagger. But thanks to a seemingly anomalous endorsement deal, she is a carpet seller.

The actress best known to TV viewers as Lost castaway Kate Austen has signed a deal with the upscale Karastan company to appear in four print ads for the rug manufacturer.

"We've scratched beneath the surface of the public persona of Evangeline Lilly and found quite an impressive and authentic young woman who's independent, adventuresome, a goal-setter and a caring humanitarian," David Duncan, the company's v.p. of Marketing, said in a statement.


"She possesses extraordinary qualities and has great integrity and we already see many parallels between her and the Karastan customer who seeks out a distinctive, unapologetic lifestyle."

According to Adweek, the spots will begin running in the April issues of several lifestyle magazines, including Martha Stewart Living, O the Oprah Magazine, Architectural Digest, Metropolitan Home, House & Garden, Real Simple and Town & Country.

Two of the full-page spreads will be devoted to Karastan's rugs while the other two will feature, in addition to Lilly, the company's carpets. Miami-based fashion photographer Mateo Garcis shot the ads, which will all run with the tagline, "Make a statement. Your own."

While it remains to be seen what statement Lilly, 26, is looking to make by aligning herself with a carpet merchant, albeit a premiere luxury one, she will be in good company.

The Lost thesp is the second major celebrity to endorse the Dalton, Georgia-based company, following in the footsteps of Andie MacDowell.

And just because the actress is lending her face to the magazine spots doesn't mean viewers will be seeing less of her.

The actress recently signed a hefty six-figure deal along with her original Lost cast mates to return for a third season of the ratings-juggernaut.

Courtesy of E! Online