'Sleepy Hollow's Nicole Beharie Stuns in Playboy Photo Shoot (SFW)

Photography By Josh Reed/ Styling by Taylor Sheridan; Hair by Steven Mason For Exclusive Artists Management Using Oribe Hair Care; Makeup by Kip Zachary For Cloutier Remi

Nicole Beharie is talented and beautiful. A Julliard-trained performer with intensity and charisma to spare. As Abbie Mills on Fox's popular fantasy drama, Sleepy Hollow, Beharie has formed a potent twosome with co-star Tom Mison's Ichabod Crane. Their wonderful chemistry was the saving grace of a rocky season two. With the start of season 3 only days away, Beharie was able to fit in a sexy but tasteful photo spread for Playboy Magazine while on hiatus.

Smile! Abbie Mills and the Sleepy Hollow Season 3 premiere on October 1st are not too far away.

The Florida-native got her first film role just a year removed from Julliard. A series of heavy dramas followed including Shame with Michael Fassbender (whom she dated for two years). Beharie has constantly challenged herself with every new role, as she told Playboy. 

“I’m interested in showing every side of being a woman,” says Nicole, who also stars in the 2013 Jackie Robinson biopic 42. “Whether my character is a vixen or strong and sultry, it’s my goal to shake things up.”

It's the role as the smart and tough police lieutenant Mills that has brought her a lot of notoriety for a number of reasons. She's the first black woman to lead a genre show. A show that mixes historical thriller, supernatural horror, and buddy cop action. More than anything Beharie demonstrates strength, confidence and passion in her performance. It also doesn't hurt that she and Mison have great chemistry. 

Their witty banter and his man-out-of-time awkwardness endeared them to fans so much that they've shipped them together and dubbed them "Ichabbie." Overwhelmingly, fans want to see them romantically involved, especially now that Ichabod's witch of a wife met her doom last season. This upcoming season finds them facing new supernatural threats with new love interests that could put a damper on the whole Ichabbie business. 

Need a refresher on what's going on in 'Sleepy Hollow'? Check out this recap from Entertainment Weekly

 Check out the behind-the-scenes video of the Playboy shoot above, the image gallery below and see why Nicole Beharie belongs on People Magazine's Most Beautiful list every year.

Sleepy Hollow premieres Thursday, Oct. 1 at 9 p.m. ET on Fox. Visit Playboy.com or pick up the October issue of Playboy for Nicole's pictorial.

Nicole Beharie Playboy Gallery by Slidely Photo Gallery Source: Playboy.com