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Mariska Hargitay Nearly Left Law & Order SVU
11 Sep
Summary
- Mariska Hargitay considered leaving SVU to avoid being typecast.
- She realized her love for the role and its cultural impact kept her.
- Hargitay believes television has the power to heal and create community.
Mariska Hargitay, who has starred as Olivia Benson on Law & Order: SVU since its 1999 debut, admitted she contemplated leaving the series due to fears of being typecast. She confided in actress Julianna Margulies about her concerns of being perceived as a "one-trick pony."
However, Hargitay ultimately embraced her role, recognizing her love for the character and the show's profound cultural influence. She believes that television possesses a unique power to foster healing and community by initiating important conversations, such as those surrounding sexual assault spurred by SVU.
While Hargitay has explored other ventures, including a Broadway debut and producing a documentary about her mother, she currently has no plans to leave SVU. She expressed contentment with balancing her iconic role with these diverse projects.
