Law & Order: SVU is returning with Season 16 tonight (yes, 16!), and Detective Olivia Benson is now a new mom who still kicks some serious ass.
Mariska Hargitay has spent over a decade of her life playing Detective Benson. In fact, she’s made the role so famous, most people can barely differentiate her from the character.
On playing Olivia for 16 years now, the gorgeous 50-year-old told James Lipton on Inside the Actors Studio:
“I love her more now than ever…I love her because I am challenged by her,” Hargitay said. “I never know what’s going to happen. She surprises me. This character has evolved, which is the most exciting part of it. I feel in many ways she’s a new character because she’s gone through so much that has truly transformed her.”
Mariska has made Benson so ubiquitous, Taylor Swift even named her cat after the character! The accomplished actress took to Instagram to respond, posting a photo of herself donning a cat collar alongside the caption:
“#WrongAddress #GotThisByCatccident #DontHaveACatniption #Collared #GonnaWearItAnyway #CatsOuttaTheBag #MeowliviaBenson #ScratchThat #PurrrfectName #TaylorMade #3MonthsLater #ALittleLateToThePawty #ThisCollarNeedsACat #PawAndOrder #OliviaBensonPetDetective.”
It’s very rare that we get to see Mariska as herself aside from her Benson persona, but she’s a mom, wife, and philanthropist – as well as a badass on-screen cop. Check out our gallery of Mariska Hargitay being all of the above, below.
PHOTO CREDIT: Instagram
