Starlet named Grey Cup parade marshal

Actress Elisha Cuthbert will be returning to her birth city to lead the Grey Cup parade later this month in Calgary.

Cuthbert, 26, stars in the hit TV show, 24, as the daughter of a federal agent played by Kiefer Sutherland, and has appeared in several Hollywood movies.

She will be the grand marshal of the Safeway Grey Cup Festival Parade on Nov. 28, and will also appear at other related events, it was announced on Friday.

The Canadian Football League's championship game will be played at Calgary's McMahon Stadium on Nov. 29.

"Elisha has wide appeal to adults and families, and her participation will truly help revive the tradition of taking Canada's biggest football celebration to the streets," said Malcolm Kirk, chairman of the 2009 Grey Cup Festival Committee, in a news release.

The parade begins at 11 a.m. on Nov. 28 on Sixth Ave S.W. and Macleod Trail, head down to Second Street S.W., onto Ninth Ave S.W. and finish at Olympic Plaza.

The procession will feature 1,800 people including marching bands, floats and live music, said organizers.

"I'm so excited to be part of the Grey Cup Festival Parade. It's an incredible Canadian tradition and I'm honored to play the role of grand marshal," said Cuthbert in a statement.

Cuthbert was born in Calgary and grew up in Montreal. As a teen, she co-hosted the TV series, Popular Mechanics for Kids.

The starlet is currently dating Calgary Flames player Dion Phaneuf.