A Near Departure
Mariska Hargitay, who has played Olivia Benson on "Law & Order: Special Victims Unit" since 1999, recently revealed that she considered leaving the show after more than two decades, worried that the role had come to define her career. In an interview with Variety, she said she began questioning her future on the NBC drama around its 25th season.
Hargitay recalled telling her former "ER" co-star Julianna Margulies, "I've got to leave the show too. I don't want people to think I'm a one-trick pony." Margulies, who left "ER" after six seasons to branch out in her career, responded bluntly: "Sweetheart, that ship's sailed."
Creative Constraints and New Opportunities
The Emmy-winning actress admitted she often felt constrained creatively due to the grueling production schedule. "The comedy thing was painful to me because I felt like I was only exercising one part of myself," she said. "People would say, 'You need to get off that show and do comedy. You need to get off that show and have a talk show.'"
Despite those feelings, Hargitay said she wasn't ready to leave because she loved the show and found ways to pursue other projects. "I made a movie while shooting; I did a play for six weeks on hiatus. I'm hosting the Emmys," she said. "Next summer, if I don't make another movie, I'll probably do another play. And I love it!"
A Year of New Challenges
At 62, Hargitay is experiencing what Variety described as a "Mariska renaissance." She is set to host the Sept. 14 Emmys telecast, a role she was offered by NBCUniversal's TV chair Pearlena Igbokwe over the phone. She is also nominated for directing and producing "My Mom Jayne," a documentary about her mother, actress Jayne Mansfield.
Hargitay made her Broadway debut this year in "Every Brilliant Thing," and her run ended just before filming for Season 28 of "SVU" began. The new season is scheduled to premiere Thursday, October 8 at 9 p.m. ET on NBC, with streaming the next day on Peacock.
The Show's Legacy and Her Role
"Law & Order's" success spawned seven spinoffs, including "Special Victims Unit," "Criminal Intent," "Trial by Jury," "LA," "UK," "True Crime," and "Organized Crime." In 2019, "SVU" became the longest-running live-action television series in history. Hargitay has starred as Olivia Benson since the show's premiere and became an executive producer in 2016.
As an executive producer, she has directed nine episodes, including a 2023 episode called "King of the Moon," which featured an exonerated suspect. She also appeared in 14 episodes of "Law & Order: Organized Crime" and has seen her character rise to captain in the NYPD. Hargitay wanted the show to be led by a woman, and it was when Michele Fazekas became showrunner.
Christopher Meloni, who played Elliot Stabler, left the show in 2011 after 12 seasons, and Hargitay eventually became the lead. She noted that before Meloni's departure, her new contract had scaled back to only half the episodes if she had been planning to leave.
Personal Reflections and the Knicks
Hargitay also spoke about her personal life, including her father Mickey Hargitay, a competitive bodybuilder, and her mother Jayne Mansfield, who died in a car crash at age 34 when Hargitay was three. She knew Mickey was not her biological father; her real father is Nelson Sardelli, a Las Vegas entertainer. Hargitay believes her mother's story subconsciously shifted her own priorities, and she believes Mansfield was a victim of domestic violence.
On a lighter note, Hargitay is a supporter of the New York Knicks and is friends with point guard Jalen Brunson. She received thanks from attendees at Game 4 of the NBA Finals and was featured in coverage as a fan.
Looking Ahead
Hargitay remains committed to "SVU," and franchise creator Dick Wolf expressed his hope that she would stay. "I hope we never have to answer that question," Wolf said, according to Variety. Hargitay herself said, "Our show made people talk about sexual assault. Our show changed the culture."
In 2023, she described Wolf to Fox News Digital as "a true visionary" who understands culture deeply and noted that a crime show can be calming to the nervous system, knowing someone is out there taking care of it.
As for the Emmys, Hargitay has been brainstorming opening ideas with a group of writers, including one she's particularly excited about: "SVU: The Musical." Whether that comes to fruition remains to be seen, but for now, she seems content with her busy schedule and her continued role as Olivia Benson.