Follow us on Google News
Get the latest updates directly in your Google News feed
Known for portraying Olivia Benson inLaw & Order: Special Victims Unit, Mariska Hargitay has become a fan favorite with her compelling performance and dedication to shedding light on sensitive topics through the police procedural drama. However, amid tackling these intense subject matters, some moments often leave a lasting impact on the actress.
Reflecting on one such episode in which her character endures an assault, Hargitay described it as the most painful and emotionally taxing scene she has ever filmed, as she revealed that it made her physically ill.
Mariska Hargitay Opens Up About Filming the Most Painful Scene onLaw & Order: SVU
Season 9 Episode 15 ofLaw & Order: Special Victims Unit,Undercover, follows Detective Olivia Benson who goes undercover in a prison as an inmate to catch a corrections officer accused of s*xually assaulting and brutalizing women.
“This was a beautiful way to go”: ‘Law & Order’ Veteran Sam Waterston Gets a New Lease on Life After Retiring From Show For the Last Time in 30 Years
However, amid her investigation into finding the predator, Bensen herself suffers a horrific incident after she finds herself almost r*ped in the basement of the facility.
In a later interview withThe Hollywood Reporter, Mariska Hargitay, who plays the character in the show, reflected onthe intense experience of filmingthe episode.“It was a painful episode to shoot,”she said, as she revealed that the experience left her emotionally and physically ill.
I threw up afterward. I wanted to go as far as I could to make it as real and frightening as it is for people who are assaulted. It was important for me to make it as profoundly real as I could.
Hargitay admitted that although the experience“was super ugly and frightening,”she also emphasized her resolve as an actress, saying,“But I’ve never been scared of that.”Her commitment to portraying such depth and realism highlights the emotional intensity she brings to her role.
Mariska Hargitay Highlighted the Key Message Behind the Harrowing Portrayal
During her conversation with The Hollywood Reporter, Mariska Hargitay also noted a pivotal aspect ofLaw & Order: SVU’sSeason 9 episodeUndercover. She highlighted the significance of her character, Olivia Benson, findingherself in such a vulnerable and harrowing situation.
The Emmy winner acknowledged there was skepticism about including Benson’s assault in the storyline due toher character’s strength and leadership.However, the actress emphasized that this very skepticism made it all the more vital to include the scene.
[Benson’s assault in the ninth season] was a big conversation because so many people didn’t like the idea of Olivia getting assaulted because she’s so strong. And that’s the reason that I wanted it to happen.
“That was a really important message to send — that s*xual assault doesn’t discriminate,”she added, emphasizing one of the key messages behind what her character endures during her undercover mission.
“It’s been a helluva ride”: ‘Law & Order’ Fans in Shock as Show’s Longest-Running Cast Member Gets Written Off After 400 Episodes
The subsequent episodes also delve into Olivia’s struggle with the trauma from the incident, adding depth to the character’s journey. Hargitay has continued playing the character in the long-running TV show since 1999 and recently reprised her role in Season 26.
While the actress hassharedthat she has future plans for her career beyond the series, she has also shared that she is not planning to leave her iconic role of Olivia Benson anytime soon.
Law & Order: Special Victims Unitis available to watch on Peacock.
Laxmi Rajput
Senior Writer
Articles Published :3447
Laxmi Rajput is a Senior Writer at FandomWire, with over 3,300 articles published covering film, TV, and pop culture. With a degree in Broadcast Journalism and over three years of experience in content writing, she pivoted to entertainment journalism because let’s be honest, superheroes, sitcoms, and Netflix binges are way more fun. Laxmi frequently covers Marvel, Harry Potter, Star Wars, and popular TV shows, offering both fan-first enthusiasm and thoughtful analysis. Her work often dives into Marvel theories, revisits the genius of The Big Bang Theory, or unpacks the Netflix phenomenon of Stranger Things.
