Last week's knockout episode of The West Wing marked a turning point for the Bartlet administration.

The fictional president who anchors the White House drama at 10 p.m. Tuesdays and Wednesdays decided it was time to aggressively push new policies.

It was prompted by the publication of an embarrassing memo written by Mandy, so if nothing else the crisis had a benefit: An episode with the underused Moira Kelly in more than one scene.

Political consultant Madeleine Hampton was introduced early in West Wing's rookie season as a foil for Josh Lyman (Bradley Whitford), but has been quite quiet.

"I would like to work and this has been very, well, sparse," Kelly tells the Sun. "Is it 100% satisfying for me? No. But it's not up to me to dictate -- I just take what's given to me."

Mandy had been sitting on the bench as the starting lineup already includes Martin Sheen, John Spencer and Rob Lowe. The show also boasts recurring characters played by Stockard Channing, Edward James Olmos and, returning tonight, Marlee Matlin.

It seems an embarrassment of riches when West Wing creator and writer Aaron Sorkin admits there just isn't enough dialogue to go around.

"You start to feel a little bit like Joe Torre and the New York Yankees," he says. "It is difficult. The cast is extraordinary and you badly want to get the ball into everyone's hands because of what they can do."

Kelly's most memorable films are With Honors, Chaplin and The Cutting Edge. Not blockbuster credits by any means. But we don't imagine she signed up for West Wing with the intention of being scenery. In other words, will Kelly be in office for a second term?

"Mmm ... I don't know," she apprehensively says of plans for West Wing's sophomore season.

Kelly had her first experience in series TV in last year's To Have and to Hold and is looking forward to returning to film.

"I find that my heart really lies in the sporadic variety of film work," Kelly says.