DATED: NOV 26, 2011

Connie Britton, an Emmy-nominated actress, is transitioning from her role as a TV parent to becoming one in real life.

According to PEOPLE, the 44-year-old actress, who was nominated for two Emmys for her role on “Friday Night Lights” adopted a 9-month-old Ethiopian child after a three-year adoption procedure.

The actress described holding the kid, whom she has called Yoby, for the first time as one of the most wonderful moments of her life.

Britton, 44, tells PEOPLE, “I thank my lucky stars every day.”

About the first time mom and kid were in the same room? She said, “It was such a wonderful moment of completion,” she said. “I thought I was going to collapse into a puddle of tears. I was just grinning from ear to ear.”

Britton is now starring in Ryan Murphy’s FX horror thriller American Horror Story, which has already received a second season renewal.

There has been speculation regarding a Friday Night Lights reunion film. Jason Katims, the film’s executive producer, told THR earlier this year that he was “very serious” about making it happen and that the project is still in its early phases.

“Right now we’re trying to figure out the story that we want to tell,” he said. “That’s something we hope will happen. What’s important for [the TV series’ cast] to know is what story we’re telling. They have such pride in the show and care so much about those characters. Before any serious conversations go on, we want to make sure that we have a great story.”

Connie Britton to Star in Ryan Murphy’s FX Pilot ‘American Horror Story’

DATED: MARCH 18 2011

Connie Britton, who stars in Friday Night Lights, has a new TV series in the works. She will play the female protagonist in Ryan Murphy and Brad Falchuk’s drama pilot for FX, American Horror Story. After Murphy and Falchuk complete production on Glee, Murphy will direct the pilot for 20th Century Fox, which will film next month.

While specifics on the project are limited, FX chief John Landgraf expressed his excitement for it in an interview with The Hollywood Reporter earlier this week, describing it as a “really complicated, interesting psychological horror show… incredibly ambitious.”

The pilot’s primary protagonists are Ben Harmon, a sensitive therapist, and Vivien Harmon (Britton), his stunning wife who, despite her fragile exterior, is a force to be reckoned with. With Dante Di Loreto, Murphy and Falchuk are executive producing American Horror Story.

It “could define or redefine the genres that [it] is in,” according to Landgraf.

Britton is still committed as a producer to David O. Russell’s FX drama project, which is still in the works.

Murphy returns to the FX network, where he previously worked on all six seasons of Nip/Tuck.

Following the show’s announcement, Murphy remarked, “FX is the perfect place for this series and we look forward to a great homecoming.”

When asked how it will differ from Harper’s Island, CBS’ flop in the horror category in 2009, John Landgraf stated that this program will be nothing like Harper’s Island.

“I can’t explain why,” he said, “but I’d just ask the question: Was Nip/Tuck like any medical show you’d ever seen?”

Britton’s next appearance will be in the last season of Friday Night Lights, which premiered on DirecTV. The season will be re-aired on NBC on April 15 at 8/7c.

WME and Untitled Entertainment represent Britton.