‘She Takes Care of Everyone’: Law & Order: SVU Guest Star Shares What It’s Like to Work With Mariska Hargitay

Hargitay’s character became the longest-running character in American primetime drama, with 570 episodes and counting across the show’s 26 seasons. In an interview with CBR, upcoming guest star Donna Lynne Champlin revealed how involved Hargitay is in all the production. She also praised the Primetime Emmy-winning actress for “taking care” of everyone on set.

“It was fantastic, and one of the main reasons why it’s one of my favorite jobs I’ve ever done is because of Mariska. She is my favorite kind of leading lady,” Champlin explained. “She’s directed the show, she’s an EP [executive producer], so she’s more than the leading lady. But the tone that she sets is so warm and friendly and generous.”

She’s just, a joy to be around and a joy to work with.

She also praised Hargitay for making everything fun. Speaking about her role, Champlin shared, “It was so much fun, especially because Mariska [Hargitay] is such a fantastic actress, and I had a lot of stuff with her. No matter what I threw at her, she would go with it.”

The Perfect Couple actress detailed their interactions and how helpful the vet actress was. “She would come up to me every once in a while and say, I don’t want to give you a note, but I just want to tell you something that you may not know. And I was like, yes, please give me all the notes. Give them all to me…”

She continued, “In the hospital room, that scene was a bit tricky. She said, ‘I don’t need to know your life, but do you know what is involved in a rape kit?’ And I’d be like ‘Well, I have an idea.’ And she said ‘Well, I just want you to know right before we have this scene, you’ve had a rape kit. Like literally, the guy is packing it up and as he’s walking out, I’m walking in. So she was very generous with me.”

In real life, Hargitay is also a dedicated activist and founded the Joyful Heart Foundation, which offers support to sexually abused victims. She is also a certified rape counselor, and supported initiatives against untested rape kits, domestic violence shelters, and more.

“I felt like she took care of me,” the Broadway star shared. “I feel like she takes care of everyone there. She is beloved by everyone on that set, and she’s just, a joy to be around and a joy to work with. So the fact that I had so much with Mariska — I feel like, as an actor, she brought out a lot of the best in me, which I’m grateful for.”

Mariska Hargitay Isn’t Done With Law & Order: SVU

Although she has played the character for over two decades, Hargitay still finds the character exciting. Olivia Benson has been through a lot, but Law & Order: SVU is a procedural drama that gives other characters the chance to shine and doesn’t put the focus only on Captain Olivia Benson. She most recently addressed her future on SVU in October 2024, telling E! News she’s not ready to leave yet.

“I have thought about that,” Hargitay shared about her exit rumors. “Not yet. Just thought about it for way later. But I’m open. I’m a very active person with a lot of irons in the fire. I am somebody who follows the signs. I trust that the future will be right and that I will be where I’m supposed to be. I’m very engaged and fulfilled at SVU right now and there’s definitely things that I want to do and achieve challenge myself with.”