Law & Order’s Mariska Hargitay said she nearly stepped away from her role as the fierce commanding officer Olivia Benson after more than 25 years in the role. In a new interview, the 62-year-old Law & Order: Special Victims Unit actor, who has portrayed Captain Benson since the show’s launch in 1999, revealed she nearly left the series to pursue new opportunities, including her comedy career. You need to get off that show and have a talk show.’” But Hargitay realized she wasn’t ready to leave after a conversation with her friend Julianna Margulies about potentially departing the series.
That is when she managed to fit different entertainment opportunities between shooting Special Victims Unit. I made a movie while shooting; I did a play for six weeks on hiatus. I’m hosting the Emmys.” She added that starring in Every Brilliant Thing on Broadway made her excited for the other projects she can pursue when she has breaks from filming the series.
And I love it!” she said. Something got unleashed, or broken open, or freed.” New subscribers only. £9.99/mo. after free trial. Plan auto-renews until cancelled.
This revenue helps to fund journalism across The Independent. Hargitay is set to be the first woman to host the Emmys in 15 years when the ceremony takes place in Los Angeles on September 14. NYPD captain Donald Cragen, played by 75-year-old Dann Florek, was killed off from the series last September after 35 years appearing in the franchise.
In the season 27 premiere of Special Victims Unit, which is TV’s longest-running live-action series, Hargitay’s character Olivia Benson paid tribute to her former leader, calling him the best boss she’s ever had. The main Law & Order series will also welcome a new senior detective, played by James Badge Dale, for the 26th season, premiering in October, following the departure of Reid Scott’s character Senior Detective Vincent Riley. Hargitay has appeared in nearly 600 episodes of Special Victims Unit, as well as featuring in crossover appearances on the original Law & Order, Chicago P.D., and Law & Order: Organized Crime.
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