Mariska Hargitay.Photo:Martin Schoeller
Martin Schoeller
Just as her character rose through the ranks to become lieutenant then squad captain, so did Hargitay as she became the show’s lead — with the departure of Meloni in 2011. Says Hargitay in this week’s PEOPLE cover story, “As I became more comfortable with the character, you saw this powerful woman emerge.”
“In a way it was a rebirth,” she continues, “and that was powerful and exciting and beautifully uncomfortable to reckon with one’s own power.”
“We’ve been on a parallel journey,” she says. “There’s a thing WWOBD, what would Olivia Benson do? The fans would always talk about it, and one day it hit me. I also have those moments where I’ve sort of slipped into her. If there’s a crisis, I just take over and lead like that. Being strong and fearless. It’s sort of this perfect feminist story.”
Christopher Meloni, Mariska Hargitay and Dann Florek on set of SVU in 1999.Jessica Burstein/NBCU Photo Bank
Jessica Burstein/NBCU Photo Bank
As for her 25 years on the show, she says, “I have two diametrically opposed answers. One is I can’t believe it’s been 25 years, a quarter of a century! And the other is, I can’t see it any other way. I can’t imagine the show ending, and can’t imagine not going on this journey with my cast, my crew. I have so much to look forward to. And I’m still growing. I like that you can be so many things at one time. It’s learning to give yourself permission to be all of yourself.”
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“I lead with my heart,” she says. “It’s hard for me to witness other people’s pain. I’m like a laser. I don’t do small talk very well. So I connect with people.”
“The other thing is that I’m vulnerable,” she continues. “That’s my superpower. I’m somebody who understands you can be vulnerable and a badass at the same time.”
“We’re all in this together so let’s raise each other up,” says Hargitay, who did just that.
“The number one thing that people can do is simply listen, not interrupt, not say, ‘I know how you feel,’ not say anything but to bear witness,” she says, sharing the wisdom that further deepened her role on the show and the deep connection she continues to share with her character.
It’s something she’s grateful for as she not only marks the show’s 25th anniversary, but her upcoming 60th birthday this January 23 as well.
“I’m so proud of it and I’m grateful,” she says of entering her next decade. “I’m stronger than I’ve ever been.”
For more on Mariska Hargitay, pick up the latest issue of PEOPLE, on newsstands Friday, or subscribehere.
Law & Order: SVUreturns to NBC for its 25th season on Thursday, Jan. 18 at 9 p.m. ET.
source: people.com
