Before Mariska Hargitay even got the role of Olivia Benson on “Law & Order: SVU,” her manager expressed some worry about going for it.
Hargitay, who will start her 23rd season on the NBC crime drama this fall, talked about the situation during a 2019 interview with Parade Magazine.
“I was like ‘This is it!'” Hargitay said. “My manager was worried because it was very dark and not up my alley, because I liked comedy. And I was like, ‘This is right up my alley.’ Never in my life had something been more known to me.”
Hargitay told Parade that she auditioned three times before landing the role of a lifetime.
The only cast member who has been on “Law & Order: SVU” longer than Hargitay is Ice-T, who plays Sergeant Odafin “Fin” Tutuola. He’s been a part of the cast since the show’s second season.
‘Law & Order: SVU’ Fans Have To Wait and See What Happens With Benson, Stabler
Obviously, fans of the show still connect Hargitay’s Benson with Christopher Meloni’s Elliot Stabler. Fans did get some good news last season when Meloni returned to the “Law & Order” franchise as Stabler in “Law & Order: Organized Crime.”
There even was a crossover episode where Stabler showed up on “Law & Order: SVU.” Who knows where the Benson-Stabler storyline goes in the world of show creator Dick Wolf.
Back to Ice-T for a minute. The rapper-actor recently reacted to the murder of fellow rapper Gonzoe in Seattle, Wash.
“MFs Shot and Killed the lil homie Gonzoe in Seattle…,” Ice-T of “Law & Order: SVU” wrote in an Instagram post. “WTF! S–t’s outta control… I’m sad, mad and sick.”
Gonzoe, who was a friend of rappers Ice Cube and the late Tupac Shakur, was reportedly shot three times in the chest and murdered, according to a story from TMZ. The shooting took place at a gas station in Seattle, Wash.
Show’s Star Explained Why It Brings Greater Awareness To Sexual Assault
Hargitay has taken her role as Olivia Benson far beyond just being on TV. She is using the character and the show to bring greater awareness to sexual assault.
“Law & Order: SVU” conveys deeper messages about sexual assault trauma and believing victims. She talked to Parade back in 2019 about the show’s impact and connection to real-life situations.
“SVU resonates because it’s a path to healing and a path to survivorship,” Hargitay said. “Each week, Olivia Benson and the team depict an environment of compassion, sympathy, and justice, providing hope to those who experience shame and isolation caused by sexual violence.
“The conversations that the show inspires have brought a greater awareness and understanding of the issues,” she said. “And every disclosure is a chance to show that a victim is to be believed.”
