‘How I Met Your Mother’ actress fights for ‘Avengers’ role

Deadline Hollywood is reporting that “How I Met Your Mother” star Cobie Smulders is in contention for the role of SHIELD Agent Maria Hill in Joss Whedon’s much-anticipated comic book film, “The Avengers.”

Smulders is reportedly up against four other actresses, including V’s Morena Baccarin, Jessica Lucas of Melrose Place, and Scott Pilgrim’s Mary Elizabeth Winstead. The auditions occurred yesterday, according to Deadline, and rumors have it that Smulders is Whedon’s leading actress for the role.