Litchfield Penitentiary is to get a new inmate in the form of 28-year-old Ruby Rose, who will apparently play a love interest for both Piper and Alex in OITNB season 3.

A blurb in Elle magazine described her character as the "lust object" of the warring couple, which Rose confirmed, re-posting it on her Facebook.

Rose is fairly new to acting, her career thus far having been focused on modelling and presenting on MTV in her native Australia.

Having largely been absent in season 2, Alex Vause is set to feature more heavily in the third season, with actress Laura Prepon saying last year: "All the girls are so close, I feel like I never left.

Ruby Rose previously worked as a model and TV presenter (Picture: Getty) (Getty)

"Or like I was there all of season 2. We all wanted me to be there for more of season 2."

In other OITNB news, Vee will also be back next season (though probably only through flashback), and Nicky will definitely feature, with actress Natasha Lyonne having been spotted filming what looks to be backstory scenes in New York last July.