Mena Suvari seemed surprised to learn that I had already screened this season's first four episodes of Six Feet Under. (The HBO drama returns tomorrow night at 9 on The Movie Network/Movie Central).

"You have?" she says in a phone interview with The Sun on Thursday. "I've only seen the first episode, and I'm hardly in that one. I'm dying to see the rest."

Suvari, who made an indelible impression as the rose-petal-strewn muse of American Beauty, re-teams with writer/director Alan Ball on this edgy funeral family saga. She joins Six Feet Under for seven episodes as Edie, a free-spirited performance artist who swings perpetually-confused Fisher girl Claire (Lauren Ambrose) over to the other team.

"I was thrilled Alan considered me for this part," says Suvari, 25.

She describes her character as really strong-minded and passionate.

"She acts out and does what she wants, which really appeals to Claire," Suvari says.

It appeals to Suvari, too. "It's hard to find strong roles for young women," she says, admitting she was so young when her breakout role in American Beauty came along five years ago that she "really didn't know the enormity of it."

Her next feature film is the comedy Beauty Shop co-starring Queen Latifah, Kevin Bacon and Alicia Silverstone. "It's Barber Shop for ladies," she says.

Season Four of Six Feet Under finds the Fishers in a bit of a rut. Nate (Peter Krause) is still reeling from the drowning death of his wife Lisa (Lili Taylor). David (Michael C. Hall) and Keith (Mathew St. Patrick) are on-again, off-again and that marriage between mom Ruth (Francis Conroy) and George (James Cromwell) seems a little too good to be true.

Since Lauren keeps striking out with men, maybe Edie is the answer. Despite only shooting a half-season, Suvari says the door is open for her to return to the series.

"Don't worry," she says, referring to Six Feet Under's high body count, "I'm still breathing when I leave."