The events of Sons of Anarchy‘s Season 6 finale pointed to a larger role for Drea de Matteo‘s Wendy moving forward, and now it’s official: The Emmy winner has been promoted to a series regular ahead of the FX hit’s seventh and final season, TVLine has learned exclusively.

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Jax’s junkie ex/baby momma Wendy has been a consistent presence on SOA throughout much of its run (save for Seasons 2 and 3), but this marks De Matteo’s first stint as a full-fledged SOA regular.

WARNING: MAJOR SPOILER APPROACHING…

The upgrade comes in the wake of Tara’s (Maggie Siff) grisly death in December’s Season 6 closer, and suggests that Wendy will play a more hands-on role in the life of son Abel (and maybe Thomas, too?).

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SOA Season 7 is slated to bow in Fall 2014.