Mariska Hargitay, who has portrayed Detective Olivia Benson on NBC’s Law & Order: Special Victims Unit since its debut in 1999, disclosed in a new interview with Variety that she once considered leaving the show. The actress said the idea surfaced around the series’ 25th season, when she began to worry that the iconic role might define her career entirely.
Concerns about typecasting
“I’ve got to leave the show too. I don’t want people to think I’m a one‑trick pony,” Hargitay recalled telling former ER co‑star Julianna Margulies. Margulies responded bluntly, “Sweetheart, that ship’s sailed,” according to Hargitay.
While the role made her a household name and earned her multiple Emmy Awards, Hargitay admitted the demanding production schedule sometimes left her feeling creatively constrained. She explained that attempts to branch into comedy felt limiting, saying, “The comedy thing was painful to me because I felt like I was only exercising one part of myself.”
Why she stayed
Despite the temptation to move on, Hargitay ultimately decided to remain with SVU. She cited recent opportunities that allowed her to diversify her work, including starring in a film while still shooting the series, performing in a six‑week stage play during a hiatus, and hosting the Emmy Awards.
“I wasn’t ready to leave, because I loved it,” she said. “Do I want to quit now? No.”
Support from the show’s creator
In a 2023 interview with Fox News Digital, Hargitay praised series creator and producer Dick Wolf, calling him “truly a visionary” who understands contemporary culture. She noted an unexpected benefit of the crime drama, observing that its portrayal of justice can actually calm viewers’ nervous systems, offering a sense that “somebody is out there taking care of it.”
Hargitay added, “It’s a very sort of interesting dichotomy—because you think about a crime show, which normally should sort of upset your nervous system, actually can settle it down because of that.”
Series milestones
Since its premiere, Law & Order: SVU has spawned seven spin‑offs, including Criminal Intent, Trial by Jury, and Organized Crime. In 2019, the series became the longest‑running live‑action television show in history. Hargitay has been an executive producer on the series since 2016, further cementing her influence on its direction.
Fox News Digital’s Larry Fink contributed to this report.
Original reporting: Fox News (HLL/CB) — read the source article.
